Scotland team v Czech Republic (no Kenny Miller)

[Diclonius]

Levein considering dropping him for the Scotland game in place of Jamie Mackie.

Is this guy ****ing serious?! The first time in recent years I would see Miller as a dead cert to start, seeing as he is quite possibly in the form of his life, and that on top of scoring an absolute belter in his last Scotland game. But no, the master tactitian is thinking of dropping him in place of a no-mark with a Scottish granny/grandad or some such.

Unbelievable.

[HFC 0-7]

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Levein considering dropping him for the Scotland game in place of Jamie Mackie.

Is this guy ****ing serious?! The first time in recent years I would see Miller as a dead cert to start, seeing as he is quite possibly in the form of his life, and that on top of scoring an absolute belter in his last Scotland game. But no, the master tactitian is thinking of dropping him in place of a no-mark with a Scottish granny/grandad or some such.

Unbelievable.

He is on fire but he is prone to missing chances when they come his way for Scotland. In saying that he misses a lot wherever he has been, thats why I think it didnt work out for him down south. Sometimes he needs 5 chances before he scores 1, in international football you cant have that.

Not saying I would drop him if i was manager, but I see why he might do it. Someone downsouth at a club in a harder league may have a worse scoring record but may get 1 chance and take that chance.

[ScottB]

When was the last time Miller did the business for Scotland? Or dare i ask on a consistent basis?

Big deal, he's scoring goals in the SPL. Boyd scored a whole heap more than Miller and he's scored jack in the Championship. This Mackie lad is on fire against a much better standard of opposition than Miller, so lets give him a shot.

If you want to get angry about it, I'd question Levein's desire to go off hunting out English pseudo Scots instead of playing Scottish players who never get near the squad, such as Riordan, but in my opinion Miller's time with Scotland should be over, we will be 4-5-1 in the next two games anyway and he's utterly useless in that role.

[CB_NO3]

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When was the last time Miller did the business for Scotland? Or dare i ask on a consistent basis?

Big deal, he's scoring goals in the SPL. Boyd scored a whole heap more than Miller and he's scored jack in the Championship. This Mackie lad is on fire against a much better standard of opposition than Miller, so lets give him a shot.

If you want to get angry about it, I'd question Levein's desire to go off hunting out English pseudo Scots instead of playing Scottish players who never get near the squad, such as Riordan, but in my opinion Miller's time with Scotland should be over, we will be 4-5-1 in the next two games anyway and he's utterly useless in that role.

I would disagree, Miller is on fire just now, at the moment he is the best striker in the SPL, banging goals in for fun and ripping the league apart. Miller's movement is class. The last few games at Easter Road his movement has ripped Hibs apart. He has played 4-5-1 for Rangers in the Champions League this season being quite successful. Dont get me wrong he is still a Hun get though.

[ScottB]

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I would disagree, Miller is on fire just now, at the moment he is the best striker in the SPL, banging goals in for fun and ripping the league apart. Miller's movement is class. The last few games at Easter Road his movement has ripped Hibs apart. He has played 4-5-1 for Rangers in the Champions League this season being quite successful. Dont get me wrong he is still a Hun get though.

The SPL is garbage though! We face the Czechs, then the best team in the world! How did Miller perform in the last matches (immediately after he admittedly tore us too pieces) when we were up against the might of Lithuania and Lichtenstein? He's not good enough for Scotland for me, certainly not as a loan striker.

Mackie was just voted player of the month in the Championship, he is worth a go over Miller. I'd be choosing between him and Fletcher simply due to the quality of opposition they play against.

[CB_NO3]

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The SPL is garbage though! We face the Czechs, then the best team in the world! How did Miller perform in the last matches (immediately after he admittedly tore us too pieces) when we were up against the might of Lithuania and Lichtenstein? He's not good enough for Scotland for me, certainly not as a loan striker.

Mackie was just voted player of the month in the Championship, he is worth a go over Miller. I'd be choosing between him and Fletcher simply due to the quality of opposition they play against.

You say the SPL is garbage (which it is, I agree with you) but your moaning about Levien not looking at Riordan who plays in the SPL, bit double standards there. I had never heard of this Mackie boy till a few weeks ago. Dont get me wrong, am no Miller fan but he is Scotlands best striker and has scored some very important goals against big teams, Italy and Germany to name a few.

[NOLA]

What times kick off?

[Wotherspiniesta]

Hallelujah!

It's about time he was dropped. 1 goal against Lichtenstein won't fool me. Over 1000 minutes before that goal since he last scored a competitive goal for our country despite starting in nearly every single game.

1 good performance against a bunch ofpart timers doesn't hide the fact that Miller is pish at International level and 99 times out of 100 bottles his opportunities in a Scotland top.

Its about time someone else was given a chance.

[CB_NO3]

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What times kick off?

19.15

[LamontHFC©]

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You say the SPL is garbage (which it is, I agree with you) but your moaning about Levien not looking at Riordan who plays in the SPL, bit double standards there. I had never heard of this Mackie boy till a few weeks ago. Dont get me wrong, am no Miller fan but he is Scotlands best striker and has scored some very important goals against big teams, Italy and Germany to name a few.

But how many huge chances has he missed? Much more than he has scored.

Holland at home last year with the score 0-0, and an open goal come to mind?

[CB_NO3]

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But how many huge chances has he missed? Much more than he has scored.

Holland at home last year with the score 0-0, and an open goal come to mind?

Am not disagreeing with that, all I am saying is that all the chances he has had to be dropped, they do it when he is in the best form of his life and replace him with a boy that has had 10 good games in his career, thats the bit I dont get.

[Kaiser1962]

This is Potter displaying his "tactical nous" by surprising the opposition. I think he is trying for a 0-0 from the start.

[ScottB]

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You say the SPL is garbage (which it is, I agree with you) but your moaning about Levien not looking at Riordan who plays in the SPL, bit double standards there. I had never heard of this Mackie boy till a few weeks ago. Dont get me wrong, am no Miller fan but he is Scotlands best striker and has scored some very important goals against big teams, Italy and Germany to name a few.

That was more that the OP was complaining he was replacing Miller with a pseudo Scot, even though he is potentially a better player. I do object to Levein seeming to spend all his time chasing English players though while ignoring Riordan and others point blank. I would also suggest Riordan would be worth a shot over Miller at some point anyway. Miller isn't a game changer, he misses most of his chances at international level etc. Riordan can pop up from nowhere and score, hit a cracking free kick etc.

But since he seems determined to play a load of English players, we may as well chuck Mackie in and see what happens.

[ScottB]

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Hallelujah!

It's about time he was dropped. 1 goal against Lichtenstein won't fool me. Over 1000 minutes before that goal since he last scored a competitive goal for our country despite starting in nearly every single game.

1 good performance against a bunch ofpart timers doesn't hide the fact that Miller is pish at International level and 99 times out of 100 bottles his opportunities in a Scotland top.

Its about time someone else was given a chance.

Exactly this for me.

[ronaldo7]

Under 21's winning in Iceland...Murphy the scorer

[Craig_in_Prague]

Team confirmed.
Mackie and Naismith, No Miller........

Caldwell in midfield

Full team: Mcgregor, Hutton, Weir, McManus, Whittaker, Dorrans, Caldwell, Fletcher, Morrison, Mackie and Naismith

I wonder how good this Mackie is?
Miller, Boyd, Riordan, S. Fletcher all overlooked, so I hope he's good!!

[ballengeich]

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Team confirmed.
Mackie and Naismith, No Miller........

Caldwell in midfield

Surprised about Mackie in ahead of Miller. I don't think the championship's significantly better than the SPL and Miller has international and European club experience way ahead of Mackie's. But what do I know. Caldwell's a risk because he hasn't played this season - usually he'd be in the first choice 11.

[blackpoolhibs]

I wonder how long it will be before Miller decides he wont play for potter?

[Arch Stanton]

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I wonder how long it will be before Miller decides he wont play for potter?

If he is picked on Friday then he will be on his own up front - a thankless task which he works incredibly hard at but no one can claim he is very able at it.

I personally think Miller is more of a team guy than you give him credit for.

[ScottB]

Starting Caldwell is utter madness.

[Musselbound]

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Surprised about Mackie in ahead of Miller. I don't think the championship's significantly better than the SPL and Miller has international and European club experience way ahead of Mackie's. But what do I know. Caldwell's a risk because he hasn't played this season - usually he'd be in the first choice 11.

I am also very surprised - but pleasantly. Firstly, surprised that Levein has had the bottle to make such a decision when the Glasgow media will be dead against it. What does this do for the Largs mafia theory or the one that he only picks Huns or Old Firm players?

The funny thing is that he was criticised for doing so and then we he doesn't he is shot down again. Damned if you do and damned if you don't - all part of the joys of being the Scotland coach. Has it occurred to anybody that Levein has had time to assess both of them this week and come to the conclusion that Mackie is perhaps the better player? How many of the critics can make a genuine assessment of Mackie's abilities?

Cutting to the chase - I've been very impressed by what I've seen of Mackie on the Championship highlights lately. Not only the goalscoring but his pace and constant movement. I have a mate who's a Derby County (and Scotland) fan. He says he's seen Mackie play in the flesh a couple of times (for Plymouth and QPR)and was far more impressed with him than he ever was by Kenny Miller (who played in the Championship for several years of course, including Derby). The QPR fans absolutely adore this guy already and their constant chant is Walking in a Mackie Wonderland. I kid you not.

It is priceless that people are dissing Mackie when they've never seen him play and probably wouldn't even recognise him in the street at the moment. Don't get me wrong - Miller is in good form but no more so than Mackie, and if the Championship is not significantly better than the SPL then it is certainly no worse.

Miller will have his part to play in this double header. But unlike the Weej meeja, let's see how Mackie and Scotland do before starting any outcry. I'm also pleasantly surprised that Levein has given the nod to both Dorrans and Morrison. I wonder if it's an attacking type too many in the line up but I never thought I'd criticise Levein for that so good on him. Caldwell would be my main concern, hardly having kicked a ball in earnest this season.

[California-Hibs]

People who go on about Miller being a poor player etc quite frankly know little about football. He is on fire at the moment, and has been scoring some fantastic goals. He scored a rocket against Liechtenstein, and he also works really had for the team. Some folk really need to let go of the Miller is rubbish nonesence. Is it because he used to be one of us and now plays for Rangers? It's not the nicest situation, yes, but he is a good footballer!

[ballengeich]

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I am also very surprised - but pleasantly. Firstly, surprised that Levein has had the bottle to make such a decision when the Glasgow media will be dead against it. What does this do for the Largs mafia theory or the one that he only picks Huns or Old Firm players?

The funny thing is that he was criticised for doing so and then we he doesn't he is shot down again. Damned if you do and damned if you don't - all part of the joys of being the Scotland coach. Has it occurred to anybody that Levein has had time to assess both of them this week and come to the conclusion that Mackie is perhaps the better player? How many of the critics can make a genuine assessment of Mackie's abilities?

Cutting to the chase - I've been very impressed by what I've seen of Mackie on the Championship highlights lately. Not only the goalscoring but his pace and constant movement. I have a mate who's a Derby County (and Scotland) fan. He says he's seen Mackie play in the flesh a couple of times (for Plymouth and QPR)and was far more impressed with him than he ever was by Kenny Miller (who played in the Championship for several years of course, including Derby). The QPR fans absolutely adore this guy already and their constant chant is Walking in a Mackie Wonderland. I kid you not.

It is priceless that people are dissing Mackie when they've never seen him play and probably wouldn't even recognise him in the street at the moment. Don't get me wrong - Miller is in good form but no more so than Mackie, and if the Championship is not significantly better than the SPL then it is certainly no worse.

Miller will have his part to play in this double header. But unlike the Weej meeja, let's see how Mackie and Scotland do before starting any outcry. I'm also pleasantly surprised that Levein has given the nod to both Dorrans and Morrison. I wonder if it's an attacking type too many in the line up but I never thought I'd criticise Levein for that so good on him. Caldwell would be my main concern, hardly having kicked a ball in earnest this season.

Good post - Levein is following his own judgment and let's hope he's got it right.

[Hibbyradge]

Miller would be the first name on my team sheet.

No-one else comes close to working as hard for the cause as he does.

[Manxhibs]

Having only seen bits of and pieces of what jamie mackie can do I agree he should be given a chance. However Stephen Fletcher is a premiership footballer who starts for wolves week in week out and I can not understand why he does not start for scotland, baffling.

[Spudster]

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He is on fire but he is prone to missing chances when they come his way for Scotland. In saying that he misses a lot wherever he has been, thats why I think it didnt work out for him down south. Sometimes he needs 5 chances before he scores 1, in international football you cant have that.

He done well for Wolves (despite playing on the wing, the mind boggles!) then came home for family reasons, then was the Stand out in (an albeit terrible) Derby team.

[Hibbyradge]

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Having only seen bits of and pieces of what jamie mackie can do I agree he should be given a chance. However Stephen Fletcher is a premiership footballer who starts for wolves week in week out and I can not understand why he does not start for scotland, baffling.

It's because he's an entirely different player than Miller. Fletcher needs folk around him, but Scotland need to go with only 1 up front.

Miller is the obvious choice for that lone role. Fletch would have a shout if we went 4 4 2, but Miller is fantastic as a lone striker.

[NthCarolinaHibs]

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19.15

Is that UK time?

[Hibbyradge]

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Is that UK time?

Aye.

[madabouthibs]

Perhaps Potter isn't expecting much in the way of goalscoring opportunities, playing one up and all that, and feels that another two games without a Miller goal and people would start questioning his place in the team? Strikers merit praise on goals scored, not mileage covered after all.
So he drops him, brings in the new guy, maybe he goes two or three games without scoring, nobody really notices though. Meanwhile the star striker is waiting in the wings to step back in with no real extra pressure coz he's not been playing for the last couple of games. In other words, Potter is protecting him.
Or, if Mackie does score, then Potter's a genius!

My other theory is, Miller is predictable, he looks good in the SPL and fair enough, he does a decent job, but on an international stage he falters against a higher standard of defender. Bring the new guy in, he's worth a bash!