If Shankland isn't good enough, Brown has absolutely no right being near a Scotland shirt. Utterly awful tonight.
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If Shankland isn't good enough, Brown has absolutely no right being near a Scotland shirt. Utterly awful tonight.
Fair point. Shankland definitely has his weaknesses (as do all our strikers) but after his goal in the previous game it would have been fair to give him a better chance tonight imo.Quote:
Originally Posted by JimBHibees
Shanklands official stats and data on speed, runs etc are shocking. But he can put it in the back of the net at the appropriate level. They know that at national level so only bring him on when it’s punting balls in the box time.Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffers
Some of the criticism here is pretty over the top. This is the best Scotland team and manager we’ve had in a long time. We know we don’t have strength in depth but it’s not like we can go out and sign players. I rarely agree with Clarke’s selections but he obviously knows who to pick to get results. Two draws, with a depleted squad, from tricky games when we’ve already qualified is great going. The way he’s shored up our defence with the players we have is miraculous. Only fifteen teams have conceded fewer in qualifying.
We've conceded at least 2 goals in each of our last 5 games. The last 2 in particular are cause for concern. Especially tonight, against a Norway team without Haaland and Odegaard, the games don't get any easier. Don't want to lose this feel good factor.Quote:
Originally Posted by jakedance
Scotland can't afford to be starting a striker who basically stands about with his finger up his arse for most of the game, no matter how good his touch and finish is. Brown wasn't great but ran himself into the ground. He's a Premiership player, he's playing at a completely different level from Shankland.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sylar
Main problems tonight were left back and keeper, normal service will be resumed there in plenty time.
BBC Radio Scotland commentators going completely over the top with the Shankland cheerleading. I'm not sure it will dawn on them that all the other strikers in and around the Scotland squad play at a much higher level than Shankland. He's scored a tap in from a rebound against San Marino and a goal against Georgia that was a header straight at the keeper. I'm glad it went in but how it wasn't easily kept out will remain a mystery.
I respectfully* disagree Jim 👍Quote:
Originally Posted by JimBHibees
*On the basis that you’re a good poster, and when all is said and done, he’s still a hearts **** 😁
We've conceded at least 2 goals in each of our last 5 games. The last 2 in particular are cause for concern. Especially tonight, against a Norway team without Haaland and Odegaard, the games don't get any easier. Don't want to lose this feel good factor.Quote:
Originally Posted by jakedance
Attachment 27407
i'd take Belgium, Romania and Slovenia for now, need to see who the play-off winners are
Brown couldn't convert a single first touch into a pass, couldn't get into space, and not once did he manage to get turned toward goal and get a shot off...Quote:
Originally Posted by Hiber-nation
If we've learned nothing from Oli McBurney, we're destined to fail. 'Premier League striker' means absolutely **** all.
I agree entirely on Clark and Taylor.
That’s a good point.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sylar
I thought Brown would be a lot better and didn’t have an issue with him getting some time over the two games. But he was pretty poor - it doesn’t matter what league he’s playing in.
Would you mind editing your post, WR? I have had a few and realised after posting that my post read as more personal than I intended.Quote:
Originally Posted by WeeRussell
Cheers (and apologies to HN - my initial post was dickish).
Reading the fallout on social media to Shankland’s omission, it’s such a typically Hearts thing to be doing to be making it all about them.
I wonder if they will still be calling him “Shanks” when he’s charging down on their goal in a Rangers strip in a few months time ?
I’d like another pop at Spain. Hopefully reduce Rodri to a snivveling mess again.Quote:
Originally Posted by cabbageandribs1875
I think that might be (kind of) their point though. We could do with someone getting on the end of scraps, scoring tap-ins, a regular goal scoring striker. Albeit shankland offers more than just those.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rumble de Thump
You could count on one hand the amount of times Christian Doidge, at his best, kicked the ball cleanly for us when finishing. But we weren’t half glad for his run of goals, however they were going in.
He already gets stick for scoring penalties on here. I think we’ll have to let him have tap-ins and headers quite close to the keeper 😁
As I say. In Steve Clarke we trust and not the time to over analyse or heavily criticise. I just think it was a little strange the time he got compared to the other two, given the circumstances and their relative contributions.
Belgium, Albania and the winner of play-off c.Quote:
Originally Posted by cabbageandribs1875
Absolutely 👍Quote:
Originally Posted by Sylar
Edit: or absolutely not, I should say!
Quote:
Originally Posted by WeeRussell
All the goals count. I was just making the point that his two goals for Scotland couldn't really have been less impressive and certainly weren't anything our other strikers aren't capable of. And that the other strikers are also regularly playing against far superior opposition, so anyone being mystified about him not getting more game time is a bit odd. Anyway, it won't really matter when our younger strikers get promoted from the under 21s and start banging the goals in.
Not at all, your post was fine :aok:Quote:
Originally Posted by Sylar
Your probably right :greengrinQuote:
Originally Posted by WeeRussell
What the last two games have allowed Clarke to do is try out four at the back and see how it impacts the team both attacking and defending wise while giving some guys a run. Makes complete sense to do so but certainly highlighted some limitations. Would be amazed if we aren't playing three at the back come the Euros with hopefully all our top players fit.Quote:
Originally Posted by JammyDoidger
2/2. :aok:Quote:
Originally Posted by The Veteran
If anyone needs any more devastatingly accurate predictions, I'm here for you.
Go on then ?Quote:
Originally Posted by The Veteran
Ukraine v Italy looks tasty
2-2Quote:
Originally Posted by BILLYHIBS
Shankland won't score.
Put your mortgage, life savings and a pair of your oldest socks on it, Billy.
You won't be disappointed and you can thank me later. :thumbsup:
That Macedonian anthem is an absolute shocker....
That was a penalty
How with var is that not a penalty?
And how was this one given?? Never a pen.
JusticeQuote:
Originally Posted by easty