Two ok points in isolation. However a minimum of 4 was probably needed if we’re to finish second. We’ve not got much wriggle room left.
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Two ok points in isolation. However a minimum of 4 was probably needed if we’re to finish second. We’ve not got much wriggle room left.
I'm optimistic. You've gotta be!!
Exactly, people saying “it’s not over till the fat lady sings”, yes but, we have made it near on impossible. 6 points (9 with Faroes) and we have some wriggle room. We would still have to get a result in Copenhagen or Vienna, but there’s some contingency.
Now we HAVE to get results in Copenhagen, Vienna and Hampden v Denmark. Oh and we have the perineal thorn in our sides of Israel at home, never guaranteed 3.
I’m afraid to say it’s game over. I’ve seen it too many times following Scotland.
J
Stuart Armstrong should always be in the side for me - a wonderful player, very good on the ball, can beat a man and find space, links up well with strikers.
Callum McGregor has been awful for Celtic and does not deserve a start quite frankly. Christie should always be ahead of him too.
At one stage we had 5 men back in a line and 2 others back pedalling to join them and they still had 2 unmarked players in our box and 2 bringing the ball up under no pressure.I’m afraid in that set up we are the dustbins.
The group is over for us now...we have to get four wins...Denmark home and away, Austria away and Israel at home...just not happening...enjoy the EUROS because it will be a long time before we are at another tournament!
The fact of the matter is in international football there is very little room for losses or draws if you want to even qualify via a runner up route. We've now went out and got 2 draws in our opening games agains two sides we'll be competing against for that spot. So while we haven't necessarily lost any ground it's not a great start either. It leaves us with no room for slip ups versus Faroes/Moldova and we're going to have to look at taking 3 or 4 points of Denmark at some point while taking maximum points from Israel and Austria second time round.
If we play as a 5 then nothing would change though. The system was clearly set up as a 5 and a 4 within 25 yards of our box. Second half Robertson was far higher, and we got in behind a few times.
Personally think we are far better Tierney/Robertson than we would be McKenna/Tierney. Only time that would change is if Cooper was available.
We're now in a position where we have to beat Denmark at least once and win in Austria.
Tierney and Christie on the left, O'Donnell and Fraser on the right, McGinn and McTominay sitting/pressing, Armstrong in a 10. That would be my midfield and full backs. Robertson on the bench. Centre pairing of McKenna and (sadly) Hanley because we are so bereft of decent players in there.
Adams or Dykes up top.
Callum McGregor was like a man short, should be nowhere near this Scotland side
Steve Clarke more focused on how good Israel were than how poor we were first half.
At times the players need to hear that sometimes it isn’t good enough.
Drawing against the 4th seeds in the group is nothing to try and paper the cracks with.
It was always a tough group from that point of view. Folk didn't see a Germany/Spain/Italy and thought it would be easier but all the teams taking points off each other is problematic too.
Still though, win on Wed and we could be 2nd so still in our hands so to speak.
There’s absolutely no defence for having a period of play where 11 players are within 25 yards of your own goal, and regularly defending with 5 on the edge of the box, and 4 a matter of yards in front, with Adams chasing shadows. That’s inexcusable and nothing to do with who we were playing.
I’d rather Denmark never won. Scotland need to go on a run of wins, if we do that then I want Denmark not to get too far in front, if we don’t go on a run of wins then we’d be out anyway. Having the chance to go above them in Denmark in September would be something else.
Unless there is a Hibs connection I really struggle to be excited by a Scotland games these days, happy to see them do well but not that particularly bothered if they don’t.
It's of course possible AH, but this side won't beat Austria away and definitely won't beat Denmark home or away - I just don't rate Clarke as highly as the media or others, and we play negative football under him. I honestly fear the Euros will be embarrassing up against top quality opposition. The football is dour, much like the manager.
As I said, I'm maybe in a national football 'malaise', I just don't get up for national games any more bud. There are no mavericks in the side, nobody who really can win a game on their own. You need a couple of players to add real spark, we don't have any.