For me tonight’s game is a must win, if we fancy our chances of getting in the top 2
Denmark won in Israel on Thursday, so we need to keep pace with them
Any early team news, injuries etc?
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For me tonight’s game is a must win, if we fancy our chances of getting in the top 2
Denmark won in Israel on Thursday, so we need to keep pace with them
Any early team news, injuries etc?
If we want to finish top we have to win tonight. Scotland need to start quickly tonight, I thought it took them about half an hour to get going against Austria.After that I thought they played pretty well, don't know of any team news,I don't think there is any injuries.personally would like to see Ryan Fraser up front with dykes he could cause them problems with his pace
A draw would be a decent result and it's the most likely outcome.
Beating them at Hampden is a must.
2 draws out of our first 2 is not good enough imo.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibbyradge
Better off winning one and losing one . It’s draws that kill you in this group format.
Need a win tonight. Got to start more positively than we did on Thursday
I think if we want to win the group we need to win tonight.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibbyradge
Coming second would still be decent though and if we draw tonight then that’s still very much a possibility.
Even if we lose tonight nothings written off, just means we need to beat Denmark probably twice which seems unlikely.
Same team as Thursday with Adams in for Christie.
I’d like to see SJM playing a more advanced role.Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveHFC
Me tooQuote:
Originally Posted by bingo70
I don't think we have any chance of winning the group. Austria and Denmark are very strong and our best hope is that one of them dominates the other to open a door for us to sneak through.Quote:
Originally Posted by bingo70
But, this is football so just about anything is possible so I'll hedge my bets as usual!
I didn’t think Austria were any great shakes the other night?Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibbyradge
They were away from home and they were better than us, imo.Quote:
Originally Posted by bingo70
Clarke was pleased with the draw rather than pissed off that we didn't get all 3.
Our fate will be decided in September, but getting 3 points tonight is important
Next 4 are
Wednesday home to Faroes
Wednesday 1st September away to Denmark
Saturday 4th September home to Maldova
Tuesday 7th September away to Austria
Of course. We were set up not to lose rather than to win so a draw was good. Forrest being back in September could make a big difference.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibbyradge
I think that was just the way the game went, when you’re a goal down with about 10 minutes to go, everybody wouldn’t pleased with a draw.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibbyradge
Austria aren’t mugs but I don’t see them being on a different level to us. If we play them 10 times I’d guess most of them would be draws.
I don’t know anything about this Denmark side.
A win needed tonight.
Can anyone explain why England games are live on terrestrial STV, while we are forced to pay SKY to watch Scotland ?
Presumably because ITV paid what was required for the England matches, and Sky paid the amount that Scotland wanted to cover ours?Quote:
Originally Posted by Onion
Don't think the back 3 suits us. Tierney seems to do well but Robertson always suffers. 4-5-1/4-3-3. That should also give McGinn far more freedom in midfield. In the 3-4-3 he was stuck holding with McTominay and couldn't get forward. An extra man in the middle will let him use his best attribute - his energy.
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Robertson should be dropped, Tierney is in better form at the moment so he should play. You see when Tierney gets the ball out wide, he’s so much more effective than Robertson. We’re basically playing a system to get both in the team. There will be times when Robertson is in better form and he should start then.Quote:
Originally Posted by LeithMike
I disagree.Quote:
Originally Posted by lord bunberry
I think when we’ve got players as good as them available we need to find a system that gets them both in there.
I think we are struggling for centre halves so having another one in there as a sort of insurance policy makes sense too.
A failure to win tonight leaves us in that all too familiar position of playing catch up.
Austria and Denmark away in the 3 September fixtures could see us needing wins if we drop points tonight or, far less likely, Wednesday. Win our next 2 and draws in those fixtures could be very good results.
If we are serious about qualifying then we need to beat the teams ranked lower than us home and away.
Chances of Nisbet getting on in the Faroes game midweek? Hopefully we’ll be a few goals up by half time and get can get some minutes under his belt.
England are better and more important than Scotland.Quote:
Originally Posted by Onion
Either that or ITV outbid Sky. Or maybe it'll be the other way round for the return games.
I think it's because England are better and more important though.
2-0 win tonight.
I don’t want to start another ‘must-win’ debate... so I’ll just say I think a win is very important tonight and I think we will get it 👍
Today’s not a must win.Quote:
Originally Posted by WeeRussell
If we lose however it will make more difficult fixtures must win so in that regard, this game is a must win but it’s not a disaster yet if we don’t win.
😉
AgreedQuote:
Originally Posted by bingo70
Nope, it's a must win :-)
Israel are the sort of team that will be king makers (or breakers) in this group, Qualification you would expect to be beyond them but they are more than capable of giving the leading protagonists Denmark, Austria and Scotland a bloody nose and pinching points off them, especially in Israel. Denmark have already passed that audition. I think with qualification in mind Scotland could really do with a win tonight. The key games are obviously when Denmark, Austria and Scotland play each other but I think you really need to be taking maximum points in all the other matches.
I think you have to look at it as a must win game. Denmark are better than Scotland, Austria and Israel who are all very similar. I think it will end up a tight group which is good for Scotland.Quote:
Originally Posted by bingo70
Aye. For me, 4 points from our 2 games is a good start. 2 points is a poor start and one I don't see us qualifying from.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lancs Harp
So if we don't win it's not all over but realistically I think we need to win to have a good go at qualifying.
I agree with this 100%.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lancs Harp
Scotland are more likely to view a point tonight as a decent outcome - and for it to ultimately cost them.
I didn’t think the result the other night was that bad. Be clinical against the bottom 3 teams and let the rest of it take care of itself head to head.
We’re just a bit short of firepower and more likely to do something daft defensively for me to be genuinely confident, although we’ve got a good few more good players than we’ve had at any point over the past 20 odd years.
I think we almost have to find a way to get Tierney into a back 3, and as unorthodox as it is, give him a fee role on the left hand side. Have both Tierney & Robertson overlap each other and that should allow one of them to get some time and space to get quality into the box.Quote:
Originally Posted by LeithMike
Totally. It’s ****ing Israel. If we can’t beat them we don’t deserve to be making the final stages of major tournaments. The Serbia performance needs to be a stepping stone to not accepting mediocrity.Quote:
Originally Posted by Speedy
I think both Robertson and Tierney like coming from deep and like to be the overlapper rather than the overlappee. Robertson looks a bit lost when asked to start higher up the park. Many full backs struggle when asked to do this despite being great attacking players.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Modfather
I'd go a flat 4 at the back with Robertson at LB and go with Tierney as an orthodox centre back with one other.
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Totally agree need a win if serious about doing well in group. Worry about us defensively after Austria. Score first and we win but need to avoid going behind.Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy Whizz
i though Israel were pretty unlucky not to take something against Denmark, we were unlucky in Israel the last game, i also thought Israel were the better side against us in the two previous games at Hampden, i won't be surprised if they beat us again :(
mon Scotland :saltireflag
Completely agree.. it’s not must win (but it kind of is 😂)Quote:
Originally Posted by bingo70
This is what I didn’t want to start.
Very good point it is nonsenseQuote:
Originally Posted by Onion
Really need to win tonight. Denmark getting a good goal difference today and we still have to play them home and away, as well as Austria away. I hate to say this but it looks like another glorious failure on the cards.
sorry:rolleyes:
This.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pretty Boy
Said at the start that we need 7 points as a minimum. In reality we should have been needing 9. Still can’t help thinking that dropping points v Austria will bite us.
J
Oh FFS. :hilariousQuote:
Originally Posted by JohnMcM
We've played one game.
What makes you think the failure will be glorious rather than abject? :rolleyes:
Marshall; Hendry, Hanley, Tierney; O'Donnell, McTominay, McGregor, McGinn, Robertson; Fraser, Adams.
Not sure about that team. I'd be starting Christie every game if he's fit. Thought he'd make a change in central defence as well but we shall see.
Christie has been poor for Celtic for a while, in my opinionQuote:
Originally Posted by Hiber-nation
Agree with that team. Means McGinn can push forward.Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy Whizz
Maybe but I thought he was our best player the other night.Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy Whizz
Callum McGregor must have about 30 caps and yet to see him do much of note. If it's straight swap for Armstrong, I'd rather the latter. Especially with Adams starting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy Whizz
Other than that. No complaints.
I really like Christie, just think he’s gone off the boil recentlyQuote:
Originally Posted by Hiber-nation
McGinn’s the top goalscorer in our squad, hope he gets another one tonightQuote:
Originally Posted by SteveHFC
https://www.11v11.com/teams/scotland...ption/scorers/
Christie is mince. Another who wants everything to be fancy and all about him. He puts more shots out the stadium than he does in the net. Fraser is a far better player and far more pace, which we missed the other day. We are a counter attacking side without pace which made no sense and why we struggled a lot. Next job is to find a decent right back.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hiber-nation
Clarke is liking the square midfield. I’d probably go with Gallagher than Hanley.
Is the boy at Rangers, Patterson, a credible option?Quote:
Originally Posted by hibbysam
Forget for a second he’s a rangers player and I know he’s not played much but I know he’s highly thought of.
Saying that I thought O’Donnell played well the other night, I’ve slated him in the past as well.
Sam what are you on about, he's been superb for Scotland, no-one can argue that.Quote:
Originally Posted by hibbysam
The highlight of the other night was when the Bayern Munich LB showed the Motherwell RB too much space to cut inside him and he did just that.Quote:
Originally Posted by hibbysam
Is Fraser not a decent shout for RWB?
Nigh on 60 years or so experience since I was old enough to understand disappointment:greengrinQuote:
Originally Posted by Hibbyradge
Patterson will be in the squad in the future. Would sign O’Donnell in the summer as i think he’s far better than McGinn.Quote:
Originally Posted by bingo70
We have struggled against Israel but I think we have changed it up with the addition of:
1. The pace of Adams and Fraser up front
2. The addition of the power and quality of McTominay in midfield
The addition of McGregor in midfield will free up McGinn to play further forward.
In conclusion tonights team is our most offensive line up for a long long time and contains 6 top level outfield players.
They should pose a far greater challenge to Israel than previous workmanlike team selections.
Hendry is my only concern but hopefully the guy plays well.
Don’t think he’d cut it defensively. It is the biggest issue with this squad at the moment though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Smartie
When you think back to the 90s we played Craig Burley there, out of position cos he could do the job. Maybe we need to ask another midfielder to take one for the team and play out of position. Armstrong could do it IMO - he’s got bags of energy and wins the ball back a lot for Southampton.
No obvious solution though!
He’s not mince. Although I don’t think he’s done much at all since our internationals last year, and definitely not undroppable.Quote:
Originally Posted by hibbysam
I think he’s a better player than Fraser, but obviously Fraser has the pace. Hopefully he plays well tonight.
I think he will be yeah, no doubt about that. Issue is game time. Tavernier will be back and keeping him out of that side again soon, he’ll need to play to progress.Quote:
Originally Posted by bingo70
Problem with O’Donnell is he isn’t enough of a threat, meaning teams leave him alone and pin Robertson back.
He’s an extremely limited player. Like I said he puts more efforts out the stadium than he does on target. His set pieces are rank now as well. He’s rightfully dropped for a far better player tonight.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hiber-nation
5000 fans present
Hopefully fans can be there in June but i doubt it.Quote:
Originally Posted by BILLYHIBS
Che's not had time to learn the words yet :wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by BILLYHIBS
Good luck fellas.
I know it’s not important but I hate players not singing or barely signing the national anthem, that was pathetic 😂
It’s great to see fans at a game again
Wow. That was rousing for the Sky viewers :greengrinQuote:
Originally Posted by Keyser Sauzee
No excuses come past the summer we can’t get fans in stadiums while majority of countries across Europe are letting some sort of crowds in.Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy Whizz
Hopefully the fans and the drums can drown out the slaverings of Davie Provan.
Faroes one up away to Austria
1-0 Faroes!
Maybe our home draw vs Austria was in fact a horrendous result :greengrinQuote:
Originally Posted by Gordy M
straight at the keeper thankfully
SJM anonymous tonight
Never a foul that, never mind a yellow. Got all of the ball.
Israel looking superior to Scotland and making our defence look a bit iffy. They’re looking more likely to score than us.
Scotland drifting out of this. Need our bigger players to step up.
Austria score, as expected
1-1Quote:
Originally Posted by Pretty Boy
2-1 Austria
header straight at marshall
Provan thinks our strips are white
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Davie Provan appears to have a real dislike for Scotland. It’s really odd.
The 5-4-1 might be decent for play off ties and getting to penalties but we need to be more ambitious in these group games. If we’re playing 3 at the back we need Adams playing on the last man and Fraser and McGinn up beside. We’re so deep it’s just inviting wave after wave of attack and we’re not quick enough on the break.
Decent work rate but Adams needs a hand up there.
Deserved goal.
Really not surprised.
better side score
Way too deep there though hell of a strike
Deserved goal but Marshall made a bit of an erse of the attempted save.
Should have saved that, best team winnin...
Well that’s been coming. Giving them so much time and space.
No idea what the plan is but it looks like it is watch them until they score. Lifeless peeformance
Marshall should’ve saved that.
Left the player with the option to try his luck with a shot from distance.
Goalkeeper has to be saving that
Shocker from the keeper. Should have saved that.
That goal has been coming.Scotland have been poor.
Give if far too much space, time and respect to Israel. They are dictating the game, we are passive.
The goal must give us a kick up the arse in the second half.
J