Steve Clarke

[Key West]

Assistant to Ruud Gullit at Newcastle
Assistant to Jose Mourinho
Assistant to Avram Grant
Assistant to Gianfranco Zola
Assistant to Kenny Dalglish
Assistant to Roberto Di Matteo

Do you think he’s worth an extended contract?

[SHODAN]

Nah sack him or whatever we were saying three days ago.

[Crunchie]

Assistant to Ruud Gullit at Newcastle
Assistant to Jose Mourinho
Assistant to Avram Grant
Assistant to Gianfranco Zola
Assistant to Kenny Dalglish
Assistant to Roberto Di Matteo

Do you think he’s worth an extended contract?
I'd give him the job for as long as he wanted it, he's clearly capable, we're always too quick to get rid.

Longevity is what we need at International level to achieve anything.

[007]

I'd give him the job for as long as he wanted it, he's clearly capable, we're always too quick to get rid.

Longevity is what we need at International level to achieve anything.

I'm with you on that. Far too many keyboard Guardiolas that think they know the job better than he does.

Hopefully he got a good bonus for getting us to the tournament and hopefully he'll get another if we qualify for the knockout stage.

[Hibbyradge]

I'm with you on that. Far too many keyboard Guardiolas that think they know the job better than he does.

Hopefully he got a good bonus for getting us to the tournament and hopefully he'll get another if we qualify for the knockout stage.

Aye, but can he win big games?

[The Harp]

Nah, nae experience.
Bring back Levein :)

[makaveli1875]

Yes , no matter what happens against Croatia he's got us playing some decent stuff and creating chances . Give him time .

[B.H.F.C]

The two best performances under Clarke have been in two high profile, tough, away games to Serbia and England. These types of games suit his style IMO.

He still needs to work out how to win more games because that’s something we still aren’t doing very often.

[Silky]

The two best performances under Clarke have been in two high profile, tough, away games to Serbia and England. These types of games suit his style IMO.

He still needs to work out how to win more games because that’s something we still aren’t doing very often.

Decent result against a good Dutch side in the warm up as well. I think if we stick with him, we'll start to win more.

[Highwayman]

Can anyone else confirm that Steve Clarke was once offered the Hibs managers job.
Think it was before Colin Calderwood was appointed.
The gelt he was being offered was rumoured to be between £5 to 10k per week.Significantly a lot less than he could have earned down in England as assistant manager,but he was prepared to take it to kick start his managers career.
Clarke then asked Rod Petrie if he could appoint Billy Stark as assistant manager.
Petrie said this was ok,but when Clarke asked what Starks remuneration would be,Rod gave him the Petrie stare and said the figure first quoted to Clarke was the managerial budget and Stark had to be paid out of that.
Clarke then made an excuse and left.
Calderwood was then appointed and another wilderness year followed.

[Pretty Boy]

He's contracted until the end of the World Cup.

I don't think either side will be in a massive hurry to start negotiating a contract at the moment. I wouldn't bet against Clarke fancying another pop at club management if the right job comes along and how we perform in the remaining qualifiers will influence the SFAs thinking as well.

If the last week has taught us anything it's that 4 days is a long time in football, 13 months is a lifetime.

[Kato]

Can anyone else confirm that Steve Clarke was once offered the Hibs managers job.
Think it was before Colin Calderwood was appointed.
The gelt he was being offered was rumoured to be between £5 to 10k per week.Significantly a lot less than he could have earned down in England as assistant manager,but he was prepared to take it to kick start his managers career.
Clarke then asked Rod Petrie if he could appoint Billy Stark as assistant manager.
Petrie said this was ok,but when Clarke asked what Starks remuneration would be,Rod gave him the Petrie stare and said the figure first quoted to Clarke was the managerial budget and Stark had to be paid out of that.
Clarke then made an excuse and left.
Calderwood was then appointed and another wilderness year followed.

Was it all that convoluted? I thought there was a phone call between Petrie and Clarke and that was as far as it went?

[jacomo]

Can anyone else confirm that Steve Clarke was once offered the Hibs managers job.
Think it was before Colin Calderwood was appointed.
The gelt he was being offered was rumoured to be between £5 to 10k per week.Significantly a lot less than he could have earned down in England as assistant manager,but he was prepared to take it to kick start his managers career.
Clarke then asked Rod Petrie if he could appoint Billy Stark as assistant manager.
Petrie said this was ok,but when Clarke asked what Starks remuneration would be,Rod gave him the Petrie stare and said the figure first quoted to Clarke was the managerial budget and Stark had to be paid out of that.
Clarke then made an excuse and left.
Calderwood was then appointed and another wilderness year followed.


£5-10k is a pretty wide spread. ‘We will either pay you £5k a week or double that figure.’ Really?

I know we were interested in Clarke, but it feels like the details may have been embellished over the years.

[Key West]

Can anyone else confirm that Steve Clarke was once offered the Hibs managers job.
Think it was before Colin Calderwood was appointed.
The gelt he was being offered was rumoured to be between £5 to 10k per week.Significantly a lot less than he could have earned down in England as assistant manager,but he was prepared to take it to kick start his managers career.
Clarke then asked Rod Petrie if he could appoint Billy Stark as assistant manager.
Petrie said this was ok,but when Clarke asked what Starks remuneration would be,Rod gave him the Petrie stare and said the figure first quoted to Clarke was the managerial budget and Stark had to be paid out of that.
Clarke then made an excuse and left.
Calderwood was then appointed and another wilderness year followed.

Could you please refrain from straying off the topic with unsubstantiated rumours.:smug:

[Caversham Green]

Can anyone else confirm that Steve Clarke was once offered the Hibs managers job.
Think it was before Colin Calderwood was appointed.
The gelt he was being offered was rumoured to be between £5 to 10k per week.Significantly a lot less than he could have earned down in England as assistant manager,but he was prepared to take it to kick start his managers career.
Clarke then asked Rod Petrie if he could appoint Billy Stark as assistant manager.
Petrie said this was ok,but when Clarke asked what Starks remuneration would be,Rod gave him the Petrie stare and said the figure first quoted to Clarke was the managerial budget and Stark had to be paid out of that.
Clarke then made an excuse and left.
Calderwood was then appointed and another wilderness year followed.

So what you're suggesting is that Clarke tried to improve the terms of his employment after they had been agreed - in other words he tried to move the goalposts.

That ties in with what I was told about his abortive move from Reading to Fulham.

[Keith_M]

He's one of the few people in this world that actually looks more miserable than me.

I've always thought his demeanour reflected his approach to football.

[ekhibee]

Wasn't he almost the Hibs manager a few years ago?

[blackpoolhibs]

Wasn't he almost the Hibs manager a few years ago?

I think we need Mikey's input here. :wink:

[I'm Spartacus]

I genuinely think if England had a Steve Clark they'd actually have a chance.

[Andy74]

I genuinely think if England had a Steve Clark they'd actually have a chance.

Steady. After 1 draw I think some have got a bit carried away.

We lost our most winnable game just a few days before - at home. Hopefully tonight he can show we are headed in the right direction but we certainly can’t say he has been achieving great things after that 1 game.

The World Cup qualifying hasn’t been a great start either so I’d be saving the lifetime contract for the time being.

[Just_Jimmy]

Steady. After 1 draw I think some have got a bit carried away.

We lost our most winnable game just a few days before - at home. Hopefully tonight he can show we are headed in the right direction but we certainly can’t say he has been achieving great things after that 1 game.

The World Cup qualifying hasn’t been a great start either so I’d be saving the lifetime contract for the time being.agreed. sneaked it the back door. one decent performance since.

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[allezsauzee]

Steady. After 1 draw I think some have got a bit carried away.

We lost our most winnable game just a few days before - at home. Hopefully tonight he can show we are headed in the right direction but we certainly can’t say he has been achieving great things after that 1 game.

The World Cup qualifying hasn’t been a great start either so I’d be saving the lifetime contract for the time being.

I'd be interested to know what you think another manager would have done to prevent us from losing against the Czechs. Would he have given our defence better concentration at the first, stopped Jack Hendry's shot from rebounding straight to Schick and stopped Marshall 10 yards further back on the pitch? We played well in that game for the most part as we did against England. At this level individual mistakes tend to get punished and there's not much the preparations and tactics of a manager can do when those things happen.

[JimBHibees]

Steady. After 1 draw I think some have got a bit carried away.

We lost our most winnable game just a few days before - at home. Hopefully tonight he can show we are headed in the right direction but we certainly can’t say he has been achieving great things after that 1 game.

The World Cup qualifying hasn’t been a great start either so I’d be saving the lifetime contract for the time being.

The performance in both Belgrade and London have been excellent

[Wakeyhibee]

Steady. After 1 draw I think some have got a bit carried away.

We lost our most winnable game just a few days before - at home. Hopefully tonight he can show we are headed in the right direction but we certainly can’t say he has been achieving great things after that 1 game.

The World Cup qualifying hasn’t been a great start either so I’d be saving the lifetime contract for the time being.

Agree on the first bit, was disappointed we didnt have the courage to go 2 up front. It might not have made a difference but the intent and belief should be there to try it.

I hope we dont revert back tonight, it will play into the Croats hands. They are aging but very experienced and still very good at this level. We need to give them something to worry about, rather than 90mins of us worrying about them and especially Modric.

[Jim44]

If I were SC, I would go a bit left field tonight and put Nisbet on from the start. I can’t see goals coming from Dykes and Adams and he might be kicking himself at full time tonight at a probable narrow defeat or draw.

[JimBHibees]

Agree on the first bit, was disappointed we didnt have the courage to go 2 up front. It might not have made a difference but the intent and belief should be there to try it.

I hope we dont revert back tonight, it will play into the Croats hands. They are aging but very experienced and still very good at this level. We need to give them something to worry about, rather than 90mins of us worrying about them and especially Modric.

Czechs barely gave him a kick. Closed him down at every opportunity and dominated the first half because of it. We need to do the same. High energy and get at their defence. Get ahead and they may lose the plot.

[JimBHibees]

Agree on the first bit, was disappointed we didnt have the courage to go 2 up front. It might not have made a difference but the intent and belief should be there to try it.

I hope we dont revert back tonight, it will play into the Croats hands. They are aging but very experienced and still very good at this level. We need to give them something to worry about, rather than 90mins of us worrying about them and especially Modric.

We went two up at half time however hear what you are saying.

[Wakeyhibee]

Czechs barely gave him a kick. Closed him down at every opportunity and dominated the first half because of it. We need to do the same. High energy and get at their defence. Get ahead and they may lose the plot.

Cant complain with his pick, Armstrong more attacking maybe?
Would have liked to see Nisbet start, not because of Hibs just might offer something new to worry them on the ground rather than in the air which they are good at.

Fingers crossed. .

[ancient hibee]

If I were SC, I would go a bit left field tonight and put Nisbet on from the start. I can’t see goals coming from Dykes and Adams and he might be kicking himself at full time tonight at a probable narrow defeat or draw.

Me too.Also Forrest instead of O'Donnell-give them something to think about on both wings. Once the game is won we batten down the hatches:greengrin

[B.H.F.C]

Struggles to win games.

Hype of the England game masked things. Don’t know what he said to them at half time but the second half has been terrible, we never started.

[Jones28]

Has he bought enough credit by getting us there? Or is it time for change?

I’m leaning towards we need to change it but I can’t imagine who comes in. There’s still a nagging thought there that we got there by the skin of our teeth via a very strange and new pathway and we wouldn’t have stood a chance without it.

[we are hibs]

Do you still get classed as a troll for wanting him gone? [emoji848]


His decision making is woeful. Fluked our way here through 2 penalty shootouts. Then he made an arse of the team v Czech Republic and his decision to not make the obvious subs tonight has cost us yet again. Weve clearly got the makings of a half decent team but Clarke isnt going to take us any further forward.

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[SHODAN]

Ah, and we're back to hating him again. Classic.

[04Sauzee]

Ah, and we're back to hating him again. Classic.
Don't have to hate him or love him, we can however question his team selection for game 1 and question some of his subs and timings of subs.

[Pretty Boy]

I did say 4 games was a long time in football. It's taken 8 days for Clarke to go full 360.

We better hit the ground running when the WC qualifiers start back.

[ancient hibee]

I think he picked the wrong team in two of the games.Far too cautious.Against the Czechs he should have put Adams on for Dykes as soon as we went a goal down.If something is not working then it has to be changed then not 30 minutes later.

[Andy74]

Ah, and we're back to hating him again. Classic.

I think the issue was the folk getting carried away by 1 draw.

Criticism of him has been pretty consistent.

[Iain G]

I think he picked the wrong team in two of the games.Far too cautious.Against the Czechs he should have put Adams on for Dykes as soon as we went a goal down.If something is not working then it has to be changed then not 30 minutes later.

Just thank god McBurnie wasn't fit...

[B.H.F.C]

I did say 4 games was a long time in football. It's taken 8 days for Clarke to go full 360.

We better hit the ground running when the WC qualifiers start back.

It’s went totally under the radar because of the Euros, but we’ve already had a poor start in that as well. Next game away to Denmark. Lose that and qualification will be about done.

[Andy74]

It’s went totally under the radar because of the Euros, but we’ve already had a poor start in that as well. Next game away to Denmark. Lose that and qualification will be about done.

Yep.

[hhibs]

Decent result against a good Dutch side in the warm up as well. I think if we stick with him, we'll start to win more.





And he learned and actioned the square root of ffffffall from that performance by that team,talk about contrary,not for me.

[LeithMike]

It was a tough ask tonight but the team could have been set up better. Armstrong gave the ball away far too much (as he did against the Czechs) so Turnbull would have been a better starter. O'Donnell is also very limited and always turns back rather than going forward.

Scotland got the goal at the best possible time and the fact that we couldnt take that on in to the second half is disappointing.


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[hhibs]

I think he picked the wrong team in two of the games.Far too cautious.Against the Czechs he should have put Adams on for Dykes as soon as we went a goal down.If something is not working then it has to be changed then not 30 minutes later.


I think to sum it up,for me.Dykes ffs,does Clarke learn nothing !

[J-C]

Clarke sets up not to get beat ad that attitude has to change, we have some pretty decent attacking options but they're never used to their best, he is far too loyal to certain players, O'Donnell, McKenna, McGregor etc, if he's not willing to change things and have a right go then he's not the manager to go forward with.

[Brummie_Hibs]

Clarke is going to ruin a generation of potentially good Scotland players. Watch the drop outs now for all the WC qualifiers.

[EI255]

I think to sum it up,for me.Dykes ffs,does Clarke learn nothing !Hopefully Dykes stays at mighty QPR and we never get a sniff of him again.

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[blackpoolhibs]

Clarke sets up not to get beat ad that attitude has to change, we have some pretty decent attacking options but they're never used to their best, he is far too loyal to certain players, O'Donnell, McKenna, McGregor etc, if he's not willing to change things and have a right go then he's not the manager to go forward with.

Not tonight, he set us up to get beat in my opinion, giving away the midfield like he did was always a recipe for disaster, you cant give those quality players time and space and expect to win.

[J-C]

Not tonight, he set us up to get beat in my opinion, giving away the midfield like he did was always a recipe for disaster, you cant give those quality players time and space and expect to win.


The long punt to Dykes and Adams is taking the easy option and giving up the midfield, it's negative football and is from the dark ages of British football of the 60's and 70's. There was no willingness to get the ball on the deck and play possession football, punt and hope is taking us backwards, you have to wonder what Tierney, Robertson, McGinn and McTomminay are thinking when they come from good footballing clubs to the Scotland squad.

[gaz1875]

The long punt to Dykes and Adams is taking the easy option and giving up the midfield, it's negative football and is from the dark ages of British football of the 60's and 70's. There was no willingness to get the ball on the deck and play possession football, punt and hope is taking us backwards, you have to wonder what Tierney, Robertson, McGinn and McTomminay are thinking when they come from good footballing clubs to the Scotland squad.

It's not negative if it works, look at Wales and the Republic over recent years. What doesn't help is a painfully slow midfield to get onto the second ball.

[Hibeesforever]

I did say 4 games was a long time in football. It's taken 8 days for Clarke to go full 360.

We better hit the ground running when the WC qualifiers start back.

We are out already, they have started badly

[JohnM1875]

We are out already, they have started badly

Eh? We're sitting second. Beat Denmark in the next game and we're a point off top.

I'm no Steve Clarke fan, but there's no way we're already out.

[Smartie]

I’m not much of a fan.

We was brave against England and was rewarded.

He was too tentative for a country playing at home with so much to gain in the other 2 games starting line-ups and subs.

What I would say though - there is a great atmosphere in the squad and players appear to want to play for him so he gets a big benefit of the doubt for that.

[Rumble de Thump]

I think he picked the wrong team in two of the games.Far too cautious.Against the Czechs he should have put Adams on for Dykes as soon as we went a goal down.If something is not working then it has to be changed then not 30 minutes later.

It's a strange one. I've read a lot of comments about how cautious we were against the Czech Republic. We had 19 shots. We weren't cautious at all.

[Zambernardi1875]

Great seeing that same fans happy with Jack Ross that are wanting Steve Clark punted.

[Rumble de Thump]

Clarke sets up not to get beat ad that attitude has to change, we have some pretty decent attacking options but they're never used to their best, he is far too loyal to certain players, O'Donnell, McKenna, McGregor etc, if he's not willing to change things and have a right go then he's not the manager to go forward with.

McGregor scored our only goal of the tournament. Unless you're talking about Allan McGregor, but he's not very attacking and has retired from international football.

[Sir David Gray]

Eh? We're sitting second. Beat Denmark in the next game and we're a point off top.

I'm no Steve Clarke fan, but there's no way we're already out.

Of course we're not out yet but 2 points v Israel and Austria isn't good enough and the path to qualification via second place isn't straightforward at all.

If I was a betting man I certainly wouldn't be putting any money on Scotland qualifying.

[B.H.F.C]

Eh? We're sitting second. Beat Denmark in the next game and we're a point off top.

I'm no Steve Clarke fan, but there's no way we're already out.

Definitely not out. But we don’t really win games unless it’s against the likes of San Marino or the Faroes.

We won’t lose too many but draws won’t get us through the group.

[Rumble de Thump]

Of course we're not out yet but 2 points v Israel and Austria isn't good enough and the path to qualification via second place isn't straightforward at all.

If I was a betting man I certainly wouldn't be putting any money on Scotland qualifying.

We're a better team than we were when the World Cup qualifiers began.

[CloudSquall]

Performance against England gave a lot of hope but we seemed to revert to "let's try not to get beat" today.


Piss poor to say the least to lose by two goals in both games at Hampden.


I fear he will do the same as Strachan in that he will persist with the "let's not get beat" strategy and change it when it's too late for him.

[B.H.F.C]

We're a better team than we were when the World Cup qualifiers began.

But still only managed wins against Luxembourg and the Faroe Islands since then.

It’s not entirely down to Clark in fairness. Without a striker who can put the ball in the net, we can’t do anything.

[Smartie]

But still only managed wins against Luxembourg and the Faroe Islands since then.

It’s not entirely down to Clark in fairness. Without a striker who can put the ball in the net, we can’t do anything.

We can get goals from midfield, from set pieces or defend in a way that makes us rely a bit less on scoring lots of goals.

We've scored one less than the mighty England, who topped our group.

[Centre Hawf]

Normally I'm one for calling for managers to go in emotional rage after matches that hurt but I think Clarke is the right man going forward. Are there things he can improve on? Absolutely. But he's turned us into more of a competitive side than we've been for a number of years. I went into tonight feeling that we could actually beat the team that were World Cup finalists 3 years ago, in a tournament of all scenarios. That alone deserves recognition for how Clarke has improved us since where he picked us up from.

We have a number of young players that are looking good for us and should hopefully be the future stars of the squad playing at higher levels than they were 5/6/7 years ago when it was a pretty big drought of talent lets be honest.

International management is weird, you don't just go get a new big name and finding the right fit isn't as easy as club football. Look at England, they've had Southgate for the last 5 years or so now and let's be perfectly honest he's not a star name manager either before he got that job and he's unlikely to be one when he leaves England. We made a hash brown of trying to get Michael O'Neill back in the day and ended up with Big Eck back in the dug out, and then we managed to headhunt Clarke. I don't see who the obvious choice to go headhunt again after him is, everyone else that is realistic feels like a bit of a downgrade. The only one that would probably be realistic in the coming years would be Moysey but he's in a comfy situation with West Ham at the minute and I can see him staying in the Premier League for a number of years still so it's not like he's going to come any time soon either.

Keep the faith, take the positives of the last 18 months. Look at the talent we have coming through and keep going.

[pacorosssco]

Normally I'm one for calling for managers to go in emotional rage after matches that hurt but I think Clarke is the right man going forward. Are there things he can improve on? Absolutely. But he's turned us into more of a competitive side than we've been for a number of years. I went into tonight feeling that we could actually beat the team that were World Cup finalists 3 years ago, in a tournament of all scenarios. That alone deserves recognition for how Clarke has improved us since where he picked us up from.

We have a number of young players that are looking good for us and should hopefully be the future stars of the squad playing at higher levels than they were 5/6/7 years ago when it was a pretty big drought of talent lets be honest.

International management is weird, you don't just go get a new big name and finding the right fit isn't as easy as club football. Look at England, they've had Southgate for the last 5 years or so now and let's be perfectly honest he's not a star name manager either before he got that job and he's unlikely to be one when he leaves England. We made a hash brown of trying to get Michael O'Neill back in the day and ended up with Big Eck back in the dug out, and then we managed to headhunt Clarke. I don't see who the obvious choice to go headhunt again after him is, everyone else that is realistic feels like a bit of a downgrade. The only one that would probably be realistic in the coming years would be Moysey but he's in a comfy situation with West Ham at the minute and I can see him staying in the Premier League for a number of years still so it's not like he's going to come any time soon either.

Keep the faith, take the positives of the last 18 months. Look at the talent we have coming through and keep going.

He's earned trust players and right to have go 2022 qualifying.

[Sir David Gray]

We're a better team than we were when the World Cup qualifiers began.

I'm not so sure about that to be honest.

9 points are required from our 3 qualifiers following the Denmark game.

Wins at home to Moldova, away to Austria and at home to Israel are vital.

[CropleyisGod]

Seriously? We should punt the manager because we lost to two teams way better than us? What about progression? Qualified for a tournament for the first time in 23 years? Good young players coming through and a core that play at a good level. People with no knowledge of the squad picking the ****** team and telling the manager he’s wrong. Please stop…

[Wakeyhibee]

Admit it we are not good enough squad, skills, tactics blame who you want we are not good enough.

My question is who will change it? Because for decades no one has and yet other nations can!!!

[Centre Hawf]

He's earned trust players and right to have go 2022 qualifying.

I think even beyond the 2022 qualifiers. We're 18 months away from that tournament and once again next summer begins the Nations League where we could secure our play off spot for the 2024's Euros. I think he should probably (results permitting) get that general length of time. If we fall flat for the rest of the qualifiers and then it doesn't seem to improve through that Nations League next summer then we'd have a chunk of time to find someone before the actual qualifiers for Euro 2024 start in 2023.

Getting your head round all the dates is the hardest part of it still :greengrin

[Scorrie]

I just wish Clarke would be a bit braver and make changes when needed. The line up v the Czechs was too timid and last night it was clear we needed energy with half an hour to play but no changes made. Frustrating when you see the players on the bench that could’ve made a difference. I think we’ll be lucky to make the 22 WC but Clarke has earned the right to have a go

[JimBHibees]

I just wish Clarke would be a bit braver and make changes when needed. The line up v the Czechs was too timid and last night it was clear we needed energy with half an hour to play but no changes made. Frustrating when you see the players on the bench that could’ve made a difference. I think we’ll be lucky to make the 22 WC but Clarke has earned the right to have a go

Yeah didn't really get the big debate. Patterson and Nisbet with at minimum 25 to go not 10. Pointless really. As you say so many on the bench who could have come on Forrest Christie etc put on Hendry and put Mctominay in midfield. Appreciate easy to say from the side but to leave shape and personnel as was and expect different seemed indecisive imo.

[Brizo]

Clarke is an inherently cautious manager and that's not going to change. It's who he is.

Croatia carved us open time after time because they are technically better than us and that level of technical ability is something they've had for decades.

We have the best squad of players we've had for decades and the number playing in the English Premiership is testament to that. They will only get better and Clarke is the best man to take them and us forward.

[He's here!]

I can't see who would do better but the buzz around the Euros has until now masked the fact he's won just one competitive game in nine. Granted, some of those games we were never likely to win, but there have been some poor results in there.

Nothing to do with his managerial ability but I find it hard to watch and listen to him as he looks and sounds like he's chewing a wasp :greengrin I don't remember him looking so grouchy as a player.

[Iain G]

Clarke is an inherently cautious manager and that's not going to change. It's who he is.

Croatia carved us open time after time because they are technically better than us and that level of technical ability is something they've had for decades.

We have the best squad of players we've had for decades and the number playing in the English Premiership is testament to that. They will only get better and Clarke is the best man to take them and us forward.

And also because we gave them room in midfield to play and pass and carve us open. McTominay should have been in there closing down, it was fairly clear that we were giving them time to get their passing game going and they were creating chances before they scored, he didn't do anything to counter that.

[Since452]

Needs to stay and continue to learn and build on this. A knee jerk reaction and getting rid would set us back years.

[blackpoolhibs]

And also because we gave them room in midfield to play and pass and carve us open. McTominay should have been in there closing down, it was fairly clear that we were giving them time to get their passing game going and they were creating chances before they scored, he didn't do anything to counter that.

Exactly, a bairn could see we were being given the runaround in the first half, us scoring only papered over the cracks. We were being given a lesson, but we did not help ourselves by not matching up with numbers in midfield, give quality players like they have time and space, and they will eventually pick you off.

[The Captain....]

I just wish Clarke would be a bit braver and make changes when needed. The line up v the Czechs was too timid and last night it was clear we needed energy with half an hour to play but no changes made. Frustrating when you see the players on the bench that could’ve made a difference. I think we’ll be lucky to make the 22 WC but Clarke has earned the right to have a go

Im not a Clarke hater but Im really frustrated by last night. the warning signs were there in the first half that Croatia were totally controlling the midfield and we changed nothing. The amount of space they had around our box at International level was massively naive as was playing two up top who looked heavy legged after the effort against England. I dont see how tactically we came up with a similar plan to play Croatia as we did England..two totally different tests. Modric had the freedom of Hampden last night.

Clarke is very one dimensional, is slow to change things and seems to want to defend a point...(Dykes is like a defender playing up front). To be fair to him I admire the way he has created a great atmosphere in the squad and Im taking nothing away from him in terms of qualifying..he got us there regardless of the route. Im not sure he is one to change his approach but I hope he reflects on what look like errors in selection against Czechs and Croatia. Im not sure he would have picked Gilmour against England but for the criticism of his over cautious approach after the Czech game.

Was great to be there again but left very frustrated as we just didnt give ourselves much of a chance imo.

[AgentDaleCooper]

If we'd gone all out attack against croatia they would have shredded us completely.

[bingo70]

Can’t be bothered reading this whole thread so apologies if this is well covered already but I thought I’d Chuck my tuppence worth in.

Firstly, no, he shouldn’t be sacked and his job shouldn’t be in any danger. I think there’s enough signs to say we might not be too far away from us having a decent side.

That said, there is a couple of things that have been annoying me a bit. All the praise we’ve had for qualifying for the first time in 23 years, I get the excitement of it all but I think a bit context is needed as to how we qualified. It wasn’t some sort of managerial masterclass. We were able to qualify by beat Albania, Israel and Serbia in a one off game. Even the Serbia game we tried tk make an arse if it with some bizarre substitutions. If every Scotland manager had the opportunity to qualify by beating those teams we wouldn’t be holding this qualification up as the achievement it has been.

With regards to this tournament, I think Clarke deserves credit for the England game but I really think he cost us any chance with that bizarre and negative team selection against the Czech Republic. That was a game we really needed to win and he put a team out to get a draw. Yes we had chances but for the most part that was when we started going for it when we were already getting beat.

The game against Croatia I don’t have any real criticism of him, we were just beaten by a far better team. The damage was done in the first game against the Czechs.

Lastly, I don’t like his passive aggressive interviews. Rather than just enjoying the England performance and result I felt he went on the attack a bit and I just found it a bit unnecessary. Fans, pundits and journalists are allowed opinions too.

He got lots of credit after the England game and quite rightly so, that doesn’t mean the criticism after the first game was wrong.

I don’t want him sacked, that would be silly but I’ll be annoyed if he gets a new contract just as a reward for qualifying, beating the teams I mentioned earlier doesn’t warrant a new contract IMO.

[ScottB]

I find the constant long ball a bit bizarre, given we’ve got a good midfield, and no forwards able to consistently win the ball when it’s launched at them.

He’s of course earned the right to have a crack at getting to Qatar, but I wouldn’t be offering him any mad extensions or anything.

[The Harp Awakes]

Im not a Clarke hater but Im really frustrated by last night. the warning signs were there in the first half that Croatia were totally controlling the midfield and we changed nothing. The amount of space they had around our box at International level was massively naive as was playing two up top who looked heavy legged after the effort against England. I dont see how tactically we came up with a similar plan to play Croatia as we did England..two totally different tests. Modric had the freedom of Hampden last night.

Clarke is very one dimensional, is slow to change things and seems to want to defend a point...(Dykes is like a defender playing up front). To be fair to him I admire the way he has created a great atmosphere in the squad and Im taking nothing away from him in terms of qualifying..he got us there regardless of the route. Im not sure he is one to change his approach but I hope he reflects on what look like errors in selection against Czechs and Croatia. Im not sure he would have picked Gilmour against England but for the criticism of his over cautious approach after the Czech game.

Was great to be there again but left very frustrated as we just didnt give ourselves much of a chance imo.

Spot on. He needed to make changes, if not at half time then soon after. I like Armstrong but he was having a stinker and needed hooked.

Adams is a decent player, but he's not a prolific goalscorer for club or country and neither is Dykes who has hardly scored all season for his club. These 2 were never magically going to find the net at top International level. Dykes in particular looked out of his depth and it's not enough just winning headers in the middle of the park at the top level. He is as slow as a month of Sundays. Nisbet should arguably have started the game but if not, then introduced far earlier - it took 75 mins for either of our front to to have an attempt at goal last night.

On the positive side, we have some brilliant young players and Clarke deserves credit for improving the side. If we can get better quality at the top end of the park there will be a bright future ahead for the national team. My worry about Clarke though, is that he is not brave enough and sets us up to cagey.

[J-C]

Clarke reminds me of Ross, sets up the team to be stuffy but with that the creativity is stifled, both managers take too long to change things when not going well, both seem stubborn in their ways. You'll get a good few results but it wont progress, the use of the long ball is old school and mentioned a few times by Souness.

[bingo70]

Clarke reminds me of Ross, sets up the team to be stuffy but with that the creativity is stifled, both managers take too long to change things when not going well, both seem stubborn in their ways. You'll get a good few results but it wont progress, the use of the long ball is old school and mentioned a few times by Souness.

Agreed.

Both done a good job on paper but I personally think if you dig a bit deeper it’s not as impressive a job as it seems on the surface.

Neither should be sacked, both earned the right to continue the progress they have made but I can’t say I’m as big a fan of either of them as some are.

[Since452]

Clarke reminds me of Ross, sets up the team to be stuffy but with that the creativity is stifled, both managers take too long to change things when not going well, both seem stubborn in their ways. You'll get a good few results but it wont progress, the use of the long ball is old school and mentioned a few times by Souness.

Although both Scotland and Hibs have progressed under both managers

[LeithMike]

Can’t be bothered reading this whole thread so apologies if this is well covered already but I thought I’d Chuck my tuppence worth in.

Firstly, no, he shouldn’t be sacked and his job shouldn’t be in any danger. I think there’s enough signs to say we might not be too far away from us having a decent side.

That said, there is a couple of things that have been annoying me a bit. All the praise we’ve had for qualifying for the first time in 23 years, I get the excitement of it all but I think a bit context is needed as to how we qualified. It wasn’t some sort of managerial masterclass. We were able to qualify by beat Albania, Israel and Serbia in a one off game. Even the Serbia game we tried tk make an arse if it with some bizarre substitutions. If every Scotland manager had the opportunity to qualify by beating those teams we wouldn’t be holding this qualification up as the achievement it has been.

With regards to this tournament, I think Clarke deserves credit for the England game but I really think he cost us any chance with that bizarre and negative team selection against the Czech Republic. That was a game we really needed to win and he put a team out to get a draw. Yes we had chances but for the most part that was when we started going for it when we were already getting beat.

The game against Croatia I don’t have any real criticism of him, we were just beaten by a far better team. The damage was done in the first game against the Czechs.

Lastly, I don’t like his passive aggressive interviews. Rather than just enjoying the England performance and result I felt he went on the attack a bit and I just found it a bit unnecessary. Fans, pundits and journalists are allowed opinions too.

He got lots of credit after the England game and quite rightly so, that doesn’t mean the criticism after the first game was wrong.

I don’t want him sacked, that would be silly but I’ll be annoyed if he gets a new contract just as a reward for qualifying, beating the teams I mentioned earlier doesn’t warrant a new contract IMO.Agree with a lot of this and Souness did a good job of pointing some of it out last night. I think a lot of us have been taken in by the hype. Still, I think the good outweighs the bad and Clarke has definitely taken Scotland forward and has built a team with spirit and passion. Something that was badly lacking before and shouldnt be underestimated. It would be good though if he can try and balance that with a bit more football.



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[J-C]

Although both Scotland and Hibs have progressed under both managers

Not saying that isn't the case, I'm just not a fan of the way both managers go about achieving their goals, I dont enjoy watching either team.

[Andy74]

Clarke reminds me of Ross, sets up the team to be stuffy but with that the creativity is stifled, both managers take too long to change things when not going well, both seem stubborn in their ways. You'll get a good few results but it wont progress, the use of the long ball is old school and mentioned a few times by Souness.

Hibs don’t play anything like Scotland.

[hibbysam]

Although both Scotland and Hibs have progressed under both managers

Has Scotland progressed? He’s won 9 in 24 against mostly inferior sides. He was given a 50/50 chance of qualifying by McLeish, he blew a chance of World Cup play off qualification by blowing our nations league group, he’s half way to blowing World Cup qualification again by giving Denmark a huge lead, he’s now blown the euros group. Where have we progressed? Our players are better now than at any time during the last 20 years and qualifying is far easier.

We have won 2 of our last 11 games, Luxembourg and faroes.

[MrSmith]

Can’t be bothered reading this whole thread so apologies if this is well covered already but I thought I’d Chuck my tuppence worth in.

Firstly, no, he shouldn’t be sacked and his job shouldn’t be in any danger. I think there’s enough signs to say we might not be too far away from us having a decent side.

That said, there is a couple of things that have been annoying me a bit. All the praise we’ve had for qualifying for the first time in 23 years, I get the excitement of it all but I think a bit context is needed as to how we qualified. It wasn’t some sort of managerial masterclass. We were able to qualify by beat Albania, Israel and Serbia in a one off game. Even the Serbia game we tried tk make an arse if it with some bizarre substitutions. If every Scotland manager had the opportunity to qualify by beating those teams we wouldn’t be holding this qualification up as the achievement it has been.

With regards to this tournament, I think Clarke deserves credit for the England game but I really think he cost us any chance with that bizarre and negative team selection against the Czech Republic. That was a game we really needed to win and he put a team out to get a draw. Yes we had chances but for the most part that was when we started going for it when we were already getting beat.

The game against Croatia I don’t have any real criticism of him, we were just beaten by a far better team. The damage was done in the first game against the Czechs.

Lastly, I don’t like his passive aggressive interviews. Rather than just enjoying the England performance and result I felt he went on the attack a bit and I just found it a bit unnecessary. Fans, pundits and journalists are allowed opinions too.

He got lots of credit after the England game and quite rightly so, that doesn’t mean the criticism after the first game was wrong.

I don’t want him sacked, that would be silly but I’ll be annoyed if he gets a new contract just as a reward for qualifying, beating the teams I mentioned earlier doesn’t warrant a new contract IMO.

I agree with most of this too. We always achieve glorious failure in tournaments so, not overly fussed. However, watching that team out there has given me real hope for the national team’s future, 78’ was the last time I felt excited about a Scotland team. Steve Clarke has done well in my opinion and should continue in post for the foreseeable. It’s great not watching old buddy has been players from the old infirm getting a place through privilege preference.

[GreenCastle]

I can’t see us qualifying for 2022 World Cup.

We still have to play Denmark home and away, Austria away and Israel home.

Denmark especially have been impressive in their last 2 Euro games and Austria seem to be improving having just qualified into knockouts for 1st ever time.

Even coming 2nd in the World Cup qualifying group is tricky as you have the playoffs.

Euro 2024 in Germany is probably the next tournament Scotland have a chance of being at.

World Cup 2026 is an expanded competition but it seems Europe only get a couple extra teams so again tricky.

The Scottish FA have no money - they won’t be able to attract anyone with a decent profile due to wages - so they will keep Clarke. Folk are saying play young players next but realistically he won’t risk it in the World Cup qualifiers. We don’t have enough depth as a country and we don’t have a goal scorer / X factor player like Modric - so we will huff and puff with solid players like McGinn and Robertson but when it comes to close games will will continue to fall short unless the depth and quality improves. It’s also worth noting the goalkeeper situation…we have 3 ageing keepers..whose next..

I can see the comparisons with Jack Ross - both solid enough but questions are taking a team to the next level tactically. Clarke’s contract expires after 2022 World Cup but supposedly SFA will offer him a new contract.

[Sir David Gray]

I can’t see us qualifying for 2022 World Cup.

We still have to play Denmark home and away, Austria away and Israel away.

Denmark especially have been impressive in their last 2 Euro games and Austria seem to be improving having just qualified into knockouts for 1st ever time.

Even coming 2nd in the World Cup qualifying group is tricky as you have the playoffs.

Euro 2024 in Germany is probably the next tournament Scotland have a chance of being at.

World Cup 2026 is an expanded competition but it seems Europe only get a couple extra teams so again tricky.

The Scottish FA have no money - they won’t be able to attract anyone with a decent profile due to wages - so they will keep Clarke. Folk are saying play young players next but realistically he won’t risk it in the World Cup qualifiers. We don’t have enough depth as a country and we don’t have a goal scorer / X factor player like Modric - so we will huff and puff with solid players like McGinn and Robertson but when it comes to close games will will continue to fall short unless the depth and quality improves. It’s also worth noting the goalkeeper situation…we have 3 ageing keepers..whose next..

We play Israel at home but other than that I agree, I think it will be difficult for us to qualify for the World Cup.

For me we are in a mini-group of us, Austria and Israel all competing for second place.

At the moment the mini-group table is;

Scotland played 2, points 2
Austria played 1, points 1
Israel played 1, points 1

The two remaining matches v Austria and Israel must be wins along with no slip ups v Moldova or the Faroe Islands.

Anything we get v Denmark is a bonus.

Personally I think we'll finish 3rd.

[Sir David Gray]

Can’t be bothered reading this whole thread so apologies if this is well covered already but I thought I’d Chuck my tuppence worth in.

Firstly, no, he shouldn’t be sacked and his job shouldn’t be in any danger. I think there’s enough signs to say we might not be too far away from us having a decent side.

That said, there is a couple of things that have been annoying me a bit. All the praise we’ve had for qualifying for the first time in 23 years, I get the excitement of it all but I think a bit context is needed as to how we qualified. It wasn’t some sort of managerial masterclass. We were able to qualify by beat Albania, Israel and Serbia in a one off game. Even the Serbia game we tried tk make an arse if it with some bizarre substitutions. If every Scotland manager had the opportunity to qualify by beating those teams we wouldn’t be holding this qualification up as the achievement it has been.

With regards to this tournament, I think Clarke deserves credit for the England game but I really think he cost us any chance with that bizarre and negative team selection against the Czech Republic. That was a game we really needed to win and he put a team out to get a draw. Yes we had chances but for the most part that was when we started going for it when we were already getting beat.

The game against Croatia I don’t have any real criticism of him, we were just beaten by a far better team. The damage was done in the first game against the Czechs.

Lastly, I don’t like his passive aggressive interviews. Rather than just enjoying the England performance and result I felt he went on the attack a bit and I just found it a bit unnecessary. Fans, pundits and journalists are allowed opinions too.

He got lots of credit after the England game and quite rightly so, that doesn’t mean the criticism after the first game was wrong.

I don’t want him sacked, that would be silly but I’ll be annoyed if he gets a new contract just as a reward for qualifying, beating the teams I mentioned earlier doesn’t warrant a new contract IMO.

Agreed, particularly with the bit about being realistic about how we qualified for this tournament. Four teams qualified for Euro 2020 via the Nations League, two are already out and it's very possible that the other two will be out by tonight.

It's obviously good that we managed it but there's still a very long way to go and the big test will be to see if we can follow it up by qualifying for the World Cup.

[Smartie]

Not saying that isn't the case, I'm just not a fan of the way both managers go about achieving their goals, I dont enjoy watching either team.

I'm the same.

You look at both squads of players and see an abundance (relative to what we've often had to put up with in the past) of good players who I'd be very happy to watch, but who seem to be constrained and made to play pretty uninspiring football.

And critically - both will always fall just short of achieving what they set out to achieve because when it matters most, pragmatism will win over boldly stepping up and grabbing opportunity.

I actually believe that there is huge potential at both Hibs and Scotland right now but that neither will actually achieve what they set out to do because of similar negative traits of both managers.

The managers will, on paper, appear to have decent records but those records won't get close to telling the whole story.

[H18S NX]

Clarke reminds me of Ross, sets up the team to be stuffy but with that the creativity is stifled, both managers take too long to change things when not going well, both seem stubborn in their ways. You'll get a good few results but it wont progress, the use of the long ball is old school and mentioned a few times by Souness....:agree:

[Lago]

We can get goals from midfield, from set pieces or defend in a way that makes us rely a bit less on scoring lots of goals.

We've scored one less than the mighty England, who topped our group.
We've also lost a lot more

[BILLYHIBS]

Clarke reminds me of Ross, sets up the team to be stuffy but with that the creativity is stifled, both managers take too long to change things when not going well, both seem stubborn in their ways. You'll get a good few results but it wont progress, the use of the long ball is old school and mentioned a few times by Souness.
:thumbsup:

[ancient hibee]

We've also lost a lot more

And this seems to have escaped any criticism. We lost 3 goals and, but for the post, could have been 4 by either allowing crosses to be made while putting the crosser under no pressure so he could pick his spot or allowing headers by not being streetwise by simply hampering the guy heading. You don't always have to win the header -just make sure it's not easy.

[Lago]

Clarke reminds me of Ross, sets up the team to be stuffy but with that the creativity is stifled, both managers take too long to change things when not going well, both seem stubborn in their ways. You'll get a good few results but it wont progress, the use of the long ball is old school and mentioned a few times by Souness.
You must be a mind reader, my thoughts exactly 🤔

[ancient hibee]

You must be a mind reader, my thoughts exactly 🤔

Great minds and that.

[Smartie]

We've also lost a lot more

My point is that I think that this has hurt us a lot more than our lack of goals.

You'd expect a pragmatic side to struggle for goals but not to concede as many as we do.

We don't play to our strengths imo.

[Scottie]

Time for him to go. We'll never have a better chance of progression in a tournament when 2 games are played at home and all you need is a win and a draw from 3 games. 5 goals conceded at home in 2 home matches. Big lumps up to the forwards Levine style. For a manager who is meant to be defensive minded he's had a shocker of a tournament. The England game papered over the cracks imo. No plan A never mind a plan B when things are not working. Found wanting in all departments.

Sorry to be so negative. Nearly 50 now so seen the same story with it all before unfortunately.

[DH1875]

If we'd gone all out attack against croatia they would have shredded us completely.

It his tactics and stsrting line up against Czech republic that has cost us. Said it the moment that team was announced with no Adams in it.

[JimBHibees]

It his tactics and stsrting line up against Czech republic that has cost us. Said it the moment that team was announced with no Adams in it.

Adams played the second half though without really impressing

[Lago]

Great minds and that.
Fools seldom and that 🙄

[Key West]

I think the team is genuinely in a period of transition and can only improve, there are obvious weaknesses but they can't be rectified overnight, I hope the team continues with the spirit and openness of their performance against England.

[WHAM]

I would give Clarke the World Cup Qualifiers but if
Failure for that then he must be in trouble.

As others have pointed out, yes there does seem like a good togetherness and spirit in the squad, we finally qualified for a
Tournament after 23 years, we do at times seem more difficult to beat 🙄 etc……..

However, his record in competitive fixtures against decent sides is pretty poor.

He is far too cautious and stubborn. How many times have we played Israel recently and struggled…and yet he plays the same formation and system each time.

Also, this use of the constant long ball is baffling. Marshall or the defence lumping it forward to Dykes who 90% of the time loses possession and there we are back on the back foot. It’s so frustrating,


Graeme Souness was correct..this tactic is rarely going to achieve you success.

We have some great midfielders now. Bloody use them.

The best performances we have seen from Scotland in most recent times under Strachan and Clarke is when we play aggressively but use our ball players and wingers (Robertson, Anya). We see it in flashes but not enough.

Anyway, it has been a great 10 days seeing the excitement building and wonderful to have that feeling back with the national team. But it is difficult not get dispirited when we should and could have done better.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[Nicho87]

Dykes got 90 minutes last night

For that alone

Watching that Scotland team was very uninspiring

[Allez Hibs]

Clarke reminds me of Ross, sets up the team to be stuffy but with that the creativity is stifled, both managers take too long to change things when not going well, both seem stubborn in their ways. You'll get a good few results but it wont progress, the use of the long ball is old school and mentioned a few times by Souness.

Yep he is another Jack Ross.

It has never been easier for a team to get out a group.

[MWHIBBIES]

Clarke reminds me of Ross, sets up the team to be stuffy but with that the creativity is stifled, both managers take too long to change things when not going well, both seem stubborn in their ways. You'll get a good few results but it wont progress, the use of the long ball is old school and mentioned a few times by Souness.

Except both Hibs and Scotland have progressed significantly.

Mental so many are agreeing with this. It's cliched rubbish and not true. Both sides have progressed significantly and in Hibs case, we're not a long ball side, we don't set up not to lose and we create lots of chances and goals.

[basehibby]

Time for him to go. We'll never have a better chance of progression in a tournament when 2 games are played at home and all you need is a win and a draw from 3 games. 5 goals conceded at home in 2 home matches. Big lumps up to the forwards Levine style. For a manager who is meant to be defensive minded he's had a shocker of a tournament. The England game papered over the cracks imo. No plan A never mind a plan B when things are not working. Found wanting in all departments.

Sorry to be so negative. Nearly 50 now so seen the same story with it all before unfortunately.

:rotflmao::rotflmao::rotflmao:Oh ma sides - 1st time qualified in 23 years and you want the manager emptied! Your pint is most certainly half empty it seems.

[Stuart93]

Not really wanting Clarke gon but the group of players that we have and are coming through, I’m no sure he’s the man who can get the best out of them, tactically anyway.

And before anyone asks, naw I don’t know who else could.

[B.H.F.C]

:rotflmao::rotflmao::rotflmao:Oh ma sides - 1st time qualified in 23 years and you want the manager emptied! Your pint is most certainly half empty it seems.

See on the face of it, it’s hard to look past the qualification.

But then you look at the route we got in via. And add in the fact we don’t win very many games. September games will be decisive for him IMO.

[bingo70]

:rotflmao::rotflmao::rotflmao:Oh ma sides - 1st time qualified in 23 years and you want the manager emptied! Your pint is most certainly half empty it seems.

No need for the laughing emojis, even if I agree with you that there’s no question he should keep his job.

How we qualified for the tournament is relevant when discussing the job he’s done.

[hibbysam]

Except both Hibs and Scotland have progressed significantly.

Mental so many are agreeing with this. It's cliched rubbish and not true. Both sides have progressed significantly and in Hibs case, we're not a long ball side, we don't set up not to lose and we create lots of chances and goals.

Other than the players progressing at club level and our quality increasing significantly (that’s nothing to do with Clarke), where has Clarke progressed us? His subs nearly cost us the play off final, the players bailed him out in the shootout, he’s chucked the nations league, he’s chucked the euros, he’s nearly chucked the World Cup already. He’s won 2 in 11, or 9 in 24 against very poor sides. His three best performances were draws.

[Iain G]

Still think we should offer Souness the job 😁

[heretoday]

Yogi should be manager if only for the interviews.

[bingo70]

Other than the players progressing at club level and our quality increasing significantly (that’s nothing to do with Clarke), where has Clarke progressed us? His subs nearly cost us the play off final, the players bailed him out in the shootout, he’s chucked the nations league, he’s chucked the euros, he’s nearly chucked the World Cup already. He’s won 2 in 11, or 9 in 24 against very poor sides. His three best performances were draws.

I’m not really one for judging manager by stats or the job they’ve done on paper, I think that’s why you and I are on a similar, of not the same page regarding Jack Ross.

I think there’s signs the Scotland team is just a better side now than we were before.

The stats or numbers may say otherwise but I think we’ve gone from having a huge turnover of each squad every game to finding a pretty decent settled side for most games with only a few positions up for debate before each game.

I’m not a huge Clarke fan, I also think he’d drop us instantly for another crack at English football, I do think there’s signs of progress with regards to this Scotland side though.

[hibbysam]

I’m not really one for judging manager by stats or the job they’ve done on paper, I think that’s why you and I are on a similar, of not the same page regarding Jack Ross.

I think there’s signs the Scotland team is just a better side now than we were before.

The stats or numbers may say otherwise but I think we’ve gone from having a huge turnover of each squad every game to finding a pretty decent settled side for most games with only a few positions up for debate before each game.

I’m not a huge Clarke fan, I also think he’d drop us instantly for another crack at English football, I do think there’s signs of progress with regards to this Scotland side though.

It’s surely hard not to be though when you look at the players we have now? We’ve boys playing at the top level right throughout the team, Tierney Robertson McTominay McGinn Gilmour Adams. All either better players now than under previous managers or weren’t playing back then.

Yet we still play 5 at the back, and lump high balls to Lyndon dykes with no pace or width up front. I honestly reckon most managers would’ve got us the results we have got under Clarke at worst. I’m not willing to forgive the nations league farce yet.

[blackpoolhibs]

I don't think you can compare club managers with national team managers, both work in completely different ways.

Club managers can bring in players from anywhere, and are not restricted to players they can pick from.

I think both have improved their teams, but Clarke has been fortunate with the emergence of a few good Scottish players, while Ross has had to search around the globe for his signings.

That is why i think Hibs improvement is better than Scotlands, and while qualifying for the Euros was exciting, i thought the way Clarke seemed to ignore the way our midfield were overrun from the first minute to the last without doing anything about it was either bad tactics or he couldn't see it?

Hibs are building something, Scotland too, i'm more confident Hibs will have more lasting success than the country will.

[Key West]

I don't think you can compare club managers with national team managers, both work in completely different ways.

Club managers can bring in players from anywhere, and are not restricted to players they can pick from.

I think both have improved their teams, but Clarke has been fortunate with the emergence of a few good Scottish players, while Ross has had to search around the globe for his signings.

That is why i think Hibs improvement is better than Scotlands, and while qualifying for the Euros was exciting, i thought the way Clarke seemed to ignore the way our midfield were overrun from the first minute to the last without doing anything about it was either bad tactics or he couldn't see it?

Hibs are building something, Scotland too, i'm more confident Hibs will have more lasting success than the country will.

Agree, Scotland have the nucleus of a good side, Robertson, Tierney, McTominay, McGinn and Gilmour are the stand outs, McGregor, Adams and Armstrong are not too shabby either, for me there are glaring weaknesses and that is not being disrespectful to certain others but they don’t come near the standards of the aforementioned.
Of course other countries are always at an advantage with stronger domestic leagues but if we have more players plying their trade elsewhere we could progress. I think that it is also a learning curve for Clarke.

[at last 61]

Good assistant but not cutting it as a manager there's a reason he couldn't get a bigger club than Kilmarnock the dour git couldn't inspire a hard on in a brothel,

[dp00]

Think he is good for Scotland … the team seem to trust him and be behind him … if he was to go who would you get to replace him ? Give him time, I think we are onto something special


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[B.H.F.C]

Think he is good for Scotland … the team seem to trust him and be behind him … if he was to go who would you get to replace him ? Give him time, I think we are onto something special


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I think we have the players with potential to become a good international team. But the chances are we won’t be at the World Cup next year, I think we’re miles from being on to something special. We need to start winning games for that to be the case.

[007]

No need for the laughing emojis, even if I agree with you that there’s no question he should keep his job.

How we qualified for the tournament is relevant when discussing the job he’s done.

We qualified by McLeish getting us through the Nations League group stage and Clarke got us past Israel and Serbia, both on penalties, so arguably Clarke got us there without him even winning a game but by winning 2 penalty shootouts.

He should be given to the end of the World Cup campaign and a decision made after that.

[Northernhibee]

Good assistant but not cutting it as a manager there's a reason he couldn't get a bigger club than Kilmarnock the dour git couldn't inspire a hard on in a brothel,

He got the national job after Killie, that’s a fairly big step up?

Impossible not to give him huge credit for the work he did at Killie too.

[Keith_M]

Has Scotland progressed? He’s won 9 in 24 against mostly inferior sides. He was given a 50/50 chance of qualifying by McLeish, he blew a chance of World Cup play off qualification by blowing our nations league group, he’s half way to blowing World Cup qualification again by giving Denmark a huge lead, he’s now blown the euros group. Where have we progressed? Our players are better now than at any time during the last 20 years and qualifying is far easier.

We have won 2 of our last 11 games, Luxembourg and faroes.


That's my concern as well.

When was the last time Scotland actually won a game against any country outside of one of the minnows?

We've just gone through our first finals tournament in 23 years, so I think people have been wrapped in in the inevitable hype and patriotism, but we also finished bottom of the group, with one goal and one point to our name... Sorry, but that's pathetic by any standard.


Clarke 'succeeded' at Killie by playing boring anti-football, and I don't think he knows any other way. Personally, I'd rather have McLeish still in charge.

[Key West]

That's my concern as well.

When was the last time Scotland actually won a game against any country outside of one of the minnows?

We've just gone through our first finals tournament in 23 years, so I think people have been wrapped in in the inevitable hype and patriotism, but we also finished bottom of the group, with one goal and one point to our name... Sorry, but that's pathetic by any standard.


Clarke 'succeeded' at Killie by playing boring anti-football, and I don't think he knows any other way. Personally, I'd rather have McLeish still in charge.

Didn't see Killie being boring when they came to Easter Road, played with Burke and Jones on the wings.

[Sir David Gray]

That's my concern as well.

When was the last time Scotland actually won a game against any country outside of one of the minnows?

We've just gone through our first finals tournament in 23 years, so I think people have been wrapped in in the inevitable hype and patriotism, but we also finished bottom of the group, with one goal and one point to our name... Sorry, but that's pathetic by any standard.


Clarke 'succeeded' at Killie by playing boring anti-football, and I don't think he knows any other way. Personally, I'd rather have McLeish still in charge.

The definition of minnows is obviously quite subjective but we did beat Serbia in November who were ranked higher than us at the time.

[hibbysam]

The definition of minnows is obviously quite subjective but we did beat Serbia in November who were ranked higher than us at the time.

On penalties.

[hibbysam]

Didn't see Killie being boring when they came to Easter Road, played with Burke and Jones on the wings.

Yet he now turns up for Scotland and doesn’t play wingers.

[jacomo]

Yet he now turns up for Scotland and doesn’t play wingers.


Yes. But you can’t accuse Clarke of rigidly sticking to a fixed idea. He tried a lot of tactical variations before settling on one for Scotland. Obviously thinks that’s the best use of the talent at his disposal.

[jacomo]

That's my concern as well.

When was the last time Scotland actually won a game against any country outside of one of the minnows?

We've just gone through our first finals tournament in 23 years, so I think people have been wrapped in in the inevitable hype and patriotism, but we also finished bottom of the group, with one goal and one point to our name... Sorry, but that's pathetic by any standard.


Clarke 'succeeded' at Killie by playing boring anti-football, and I don't think he knows any other way. Personally, I'd rather have McLeish still in charge.


McLeish is gone. Even if he wanted to return tomorrow he might not be the same manager… in fact he was criticised for an increasingly stodgy style of play down south, which is not something you could accuse him of at Hibs.

We are where we are and it seems we have a good group who like and trust Clarke. Plenty of questions to be asked about the approach to the Euros but I feel we are best sticking with what we’ve got.

[Keith_M]

The definition of minnows is obviously quite subjective but we did beat Serbia in November who were ranked higher than us at the time.


I was kind of meaning beating another side during normal time, or even extra time, though i take your point

I'm not deliberately downplaying the fact that Scotland beat Serbia (eventually), but our recent games are not exactly much to boast about and I'm not really convinced we'll see much better under Clarke.

[Sir David Gray]

On penalties.

Yep we did still beat them though, it still counts as a win.

[Sir David Gray]

I was kind of meaning beating another side during normal time, or even extra time, though i take your point

I'm not deliberately downplaying the fact that Scotland beat Serbia (eventually), but our recent games are not exactly much to boast about and I'm not really convinced we'll see much better under Clarke.

Czech Republic and Slovakia at home in October last year?

[J-C]

Yes. But you can’t accuse Clarke of rigidly sticking to a fixed idea. He tried a lot of tactical variations before settling on one for Scotland. Obviously thinks that’s the best use of the talent at his disposal.

Best use of the talent would see McTomminay in midfield, Cooper at the back and with more pace up top and out wide.

[davidgray210516]

That's my concern as well.

When was the last time Scotland actually won a game against any country outside of one of the minnows?

We've just gone through our first finals tournament in 23 years, so I think people have been wrapped in in the inevitable hype and patriotism, but we also finished bottom of the group, with one goal and one point to our name... Sorry, but that's pathetic by any standard.


Clarke 'succeeded' at Killie by playing boring anti-football, and I don't think he knows any other way. Personally, I'd rather have McLeish still in charge.

Anti football at Killie? Maybe I’m wrong but I thought their football was unreal from what I remember, certainly against us and the old firm games on tv they were very eye catching. One of the few games we beat them with him in charge was 5-3. Hardly boring anti football lol

[MWHIBBIES]

Anti football at Killie? Maybe I’m wrong but I thought their football was unreal from what I remember, certainly against us and the old firm games on tv they were very eye catching. One of the few games we beat them with him in charge was 5-3. Hardly boring anti football lol

Our record vs Clarkes Kilmarnock was 3 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses. I never thought they were that great against us. Even their good results were with laughable decisions in their favour (2 very dodgy pens in different games at Rugby Park)

Only game they were decent was the game then floodlights went out, and we were absolutely dog**** that night.

[Smartie]

Our record vs Clarkes Kilmarnock was 3 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses. I never thought they were that great against us. Even their good results were with laughable decisions in their favour (2 very dodgy pens in different games at Rugby Park)

Only game they were decent was the game then floodlights went out, and we were absolutely dog**** that night.

I didn’t think they were all that brilliant against us head to head but their results under him in general were pretty spectacular, especially if you consider where they were before and after he was there.

[hibbysam]

Yep we did still beat them though, it still counts as a win.

Which he was very fortunate to do so after nearly throwing it by making awful subs.

[hibbysam]

Yes. But you can’t accuse Clarke of rigidly sticking to a fixed idea. He tried a lot of tactical variations before settling on one for Scotland. Obviously thinks that’s the best use of the talent at his disposal.

I’d say he’s rigidly sticking to a fixed idea now by playing 5 at the back, and refusing to change it even when it’s plainly obvious that it’s not working (Croatia). For me, the only top side I know that plays 3 at the back is Chelsea, but they have ****e who covers plenty of ground in the middle of the park. They also play with plenty of pace up front. We don’t have/do either of that so it’s automatically a negative way of playing. His win record is abysmal.

[Inconsequential]

Clarke's signings over the close season must be good! The man can only work with what there is. He can only pi*h with the cock he's got so to speak. 😄

[007]

Clarke's signings over the close season must be good! The man can only work with what there is. He can only pi*h with the cock he's got so to speak. 😄

Steve Clarke's cock can speak???!!! 😯

[CropleyWasGod]

Steve Clarke's cock can speak???!!! 😯

Nah. He's talking bollocks.