Loominous

Must not lose for me. Win obviously would be great.

Wouldn't be surprised if Declan Gallagher was called in as his place in the team was taken by Grant Hanley. Wouldn't be surprised if we just go with what we have as Steve Clarke likes a small squad. If we go with what we have it's a straight choice for me but I can't decide who I'd prefer. I think Jack Hendry edges it if he is sharp enough. Jack Hendry Started alongside McSauce and Tierney in the centre of a back-3 when we beat Israel 3-2 last October while Scott McKenna watched the game from the bench. Started in the middle of the back-3 recently in our 2-0 win over Armenia while Scott McKenna was chosen to play on the left of the back-3. Hasn't had much club game time so might lack sharpness. Could be argued he isn't as physically dominant and aggressive as Hanley or McKenna. Scott McKenna Played alongside McSauce and Tierney in the centre of a back-3 when he replaced an injured Hanley in our 1-3 defeat to Croatia at Euro 2020 after 30 minutes. Jack Hendry wasn't an option as he was left out of the matchday squad for that game. Seems well suited on paper to being the middle centre-back but he hasn't ever been preferred for that position. Has been getting good minutes at his club.

Sorry, I didn't mean to give that impression. It's more how the generalisation was used in support of an argument for changing an aspect of our team setup rather than the generalisation itself that I don't agree with.

We undervalue Ukrainian players if we assume that they aren't good enough to play at a higher level just because they play for Shakhtar or Dynamo. That logic can also force at best conclusions which are hard to verify and at worst incorrect when trying to fit facts into a general theory as we've seen with the discussion on Celtic's Callum McGregor or as @Satoshi referenced with Scott Brown's and his sister. Relating that back to the original point. Can we infer how good the Ukrainian centre-backs are because they both play in the Ukrainian Premier League? I'd say no - There is a myriad of reasons or circumstances why any player may choose not to move to a top-5 league unique to each individual circumstance. Can we base an argument and draw conclusions about our own defensive setup centred on the logic outlined above? Again, not for me. It's common for fans to make conclusions based on generalisations. Fans typically don't have the full picture when forming opinions and the detail is important in the decisions that are made.

Fair enough, I can see how you've arrived at that point of view. I'd just query how persuasive an argument that is constructed around a generalisation about another team is? The detail in the picture is missing if your generalisation is assumed as true. What might work for Ukraine might not work for Scotland. A stronger argument in my view might look to reference the strengths and weaknesses of the Scotland team with respect to a change to our defensive setup because we understand the detail and context of our own team and it's requirements.

How would that proxy work with Callum McGregor given where he is plying his trade? It's an okay general guide to check what level they are playing at but if a Ukrainian punter said to you how good can Callum McGregor be if he is only playing in the Scottish league you'd hopefully put him right. I suspect that it's a similar story with Matvienko and Zabarnyi who have both been repeatedly linked with moves to the English Premier League.

Dykes at his best is an unstoppable force of nature.

For all that we were outplayed against Ukraine I think what did it for us is that we gave away really soft goals. In that sense we didn't give ourselves a chance. No matter how you set up if you concede goals like we did you're beginning from a standing start.

I don't think he's injured because he was on the subs bench for Leeds against Brighton but I'm guessing he is still being built up so probably a bit soon to just throw him into an International squad especially if he hasn't built up a level of fitness (I don't think he had a full pre-season) and so maybe it's more beneficial for him to stay in Leeds and continue with them to be ready and build up his minutes from October.

Looks good to me. Makes sense and we have all areas covered well. Happy to see McLaughlin, Fraser, Tierney, McLean and Porteous back involved!

A lot of people will be excited for the home game against The Republic, but I think the games against Ukraine are way more interesting because it's a game directly against a nation we want to supplant.

It's a shame because it's hard not to imagine Billy Gilmour could have been in with a chance of getting decent game time with Potter in charge instead of Tuchel. It is what it is though, Billy Gilmour has to just focus on making headway in his Brighton career regardless of what manager comes in and if he excels there then in the future he might earn a move back to Chelsea as Potter seems to like him. I don't think it was ever established that there is a buy back clause which again is a bit of a kick in the nuts.

Thanks, that was interesting as I wasn't aware that he'd played let alone scored. What's your opinion of Liam Cooper, Scott McKenna and Jack Hendry's performances as LCB during Scotland's June internationals and how do you think Josh Doig might compare to them if he was involved as a backup to Kieran Tierney?

Some of the worst posters in the TA section are the most ardent pro Gilmour in my opinion.

Until it has been confirmed I think making the assumption that there is a buy back especially forming arguments around that basis is premature. On the move I think it was the best possible outcome given the situation. Look forward to seeing him and hopefully he can establish himself in this Brighton team.

Might not be great timing if Chelsea only have a short term midfield shortage and Gilmour' s kept around as cover.

I always thought Grant Hanley plays a bit like a sweeper for Scotland. Perhaps not in the classical Libero sense, but I' think certain aspects of his role are at least sweeper-like. Specifically tending to sit a little deeper than the two outside centre backs so he can provide cover when balls are fired into the channel or over the top. All of our centre backs seem to have quite a lot of freedom in their respective roles.

To be fair, a team can't play well in every game and sometimes as Van Bronckhorst said in the post match press conference you have to accept you aren't going to get everything your own way especially in a game of this magnitude. ---------------- "Obviously we want to start well but you're playing against a good team so it's not like we go every game we go out and dictate the game and you know we're going to do what we want - no, you have to make sure you are there but you're playing against an opponent who's a strong team and the team (PSV) is also fighting for Champions League - played champions league in the last couple of years. Last year they didn't qualify but if you see their side it's quality players. You can see the quality they have in todays game, so for us to think we play and we have 90 minutes dominance on the pitch? it doesn't work like that."

The moment professional football coaches and managers start listening to fan and media opinions regarding team selection is the time to start worrying.

I would have expected Billy Gilmour to have moved somewhere by now given he isn't part of the first team squad at Chelsea and the season is underway. I know loans and permanent moves can often be completed when clubs have a stronger idea of how their squads are shaping up but given Everton who have been widely touted with signing him are close to signing two central midfielders it makes you wonder what's delaying it. Hopefully it's sorted sooner rather than later.

I don't put any faith in the BBC player rater as a measure of how well a player played in the game. It's more like a popularity score.

Good result, caught me by surprise. Only half time in the tie but that's no reason not to enjoy the win! Great to see Tannadice full and great to see Jack Ross managing in Europe!

Confirmed officially. Conor Gallagher has been assigned #23 which was Billy Gilmour's shirt number in 20/21 and was not assigned to any player in 21/22 when Gilmour was loaned to Norwich City. I suppose it has a certain symbolism to it.

I'd like one of Zurich, Malmo, Olympiakos or Partizan if I could choose.

Good summary. Grant and Forrest are looking pretty good as far as the new signings go. It's good preparation for the European schedule this season and hopefully the players take the experience on board. It's been good not to have League Cup games as Robbie has been able to tailor the schedule to what he needs.