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Yeah, well clearly my view is not the popular opinion. Feel free to continue jizzing over the potential of Gilmour.

I say just wait and see how his career goes and stop adding all the crap hype e.g. he's going to be world class, play for Barcelona, win the Ballon Dor etc. etc.

Jack Wilshere is a very good example of how things don't always pan out as people hope, expect or predict.

I like your post. I think Steve Clarke will adapt things, he has shown the ability to innovate in his time in charge and also to trust younger players. I don't believe he has a closed mind based on what I've seen on him so far even if our progress in terms of performances or results may not be where some more impatient fans want us to be. It seems obvious to all fans to play with the ball using the midfield instead of bypassing it and based on what I've seen of Steve Clarke throughout his career he is a logical man, so my suspicion is that what he's doing is logical and we don't have all the information. We know Billy Gilmour would have played against Croatia if he was fit and our injuries to McLean and Jack and shortage at right centre back did significantly reduce our options in midfield.

Not obsessed. I just wanted to try and help you see sense, I haven't been able to do that unfortunately.

Do you think Billy Gilmour is world class just now?

So you think you can tell if a player is going to be world class after one game. You accept you don't always get it right, but you've got it right several time in the past with Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Kieran Tierney as examples of this. You have provided no examples of players you got wrong because it proves nothing. Is that right?

So how can you say this with such certainty? You think you can tell he will be world class - but you can't be certain, can you?

There is a contradiction in these statements.

There is a clear difference between it being blindingly obvious that someone will become world class and thinking someone will be world class. Is that fair?

Not with any certainty. You think he will become World Class which is different to what you wrote below. "its not ridiculous you could tell someone would be world class after a few games. Or even one, sometimes its just blindingly obvious. I've done it and got it right loads of times."

So what have we learned here then? You get some right, you get some wrong. You can't predict with certainty whether Billy Gilmour will become a world class player or anyone else for that matter? Is that fair?

It would provide additional evidence that you can't accurately predict how good a football player will be in the future based on one game seen in the present.

You're happy enough to promote the times when you got it right, but you aren't telling us the times when you got it wrong. So I'll ask again, which players did you get wrong pal?

So what players did you get wrong pal?

It will be interesting to see who we pick over the September, October and November World Cup Qualifying campaign squads. Craig Gordon has no intentions of retiring himself as expected and I can't really see a change in goalkeeper selection for the September games. https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/craig-gordon-hungry-to-lift-trophies-as-hearts-captain-as-he-reveals-thoughts-on-scotland-retirement-3302517

ok mate, glad you squeezed that in there somewhere.

I think in all the disappointment from the game against Croatia it may have gone under the radar how good his performance was, particularly on the ball - probably our best player on the night. We certainly haven't moved any further forward in deciding whether to play him in centre midfield or at centre back. I think a combination of our midfield depth and Jack Hendry fading out as the tournament progressed might see him as centre back in the upcoming qualifiers.

That was from page one and seems in line with reality.

Ryan Fraser? they linked up well against Israel, but haven't been tried together apart from that.

Yes, very witty - now back up your outlandish claims, bet you can't.

What talent have you spotted mate?

Offensively, I thought he started quite well for the first 10 minutes just like the whole team, but he seemed to be more on the periphery of the game as it progressed in terms of actually using the ball. He did get into some good positions and our goal came from an excellent pass down the line to Stuart Armstrong, but only worked effectively with the attacking players sparingly to create chances down our right side. Of the 19 passes he made, 9 were played to Scott McTominay - not sure if that was planned. Defensively caught out a few times when he was in more attacking positions, but also made some helpful clearances and blocks. I wasn't surprised to see Patterson come on to replace him and if anything I'd have expected it sooner as his already limited attacking output dropped off further in the second half and he starting to pick fights with their players.

Steady on, some balance please. Peoples hopes/expectations are going through the roof with this guy. He's doing well for his age, but only time will tell how good he is. Just wait till he plays 'below his standard' in a game we lose and he'll be getting absolute pelters.

After re-watching the game I can say David Marshall was first class against Croatia. Credit where credit is due and all that.