Gordon Strachan

[troopio]

2 hours ago, Lex said:

Surely he can't survive if we don't win in Malta.

I have visions of a shitey 0-0 followed by loads of ' tough away game, not a bad point, no games easy at this level ' like quips from Strachan and his crony apologists in the media. Then he somehow keeps his job.

The reality would be that such a result would be an utter disaster and instantly end our World Cup hopes.

This.

Sadly his lovers in the Glaswegian Media, because nowhere exists North of Stirling, will see things through rose tinted specs and not say a word.

If we get anything less than 3 points against Malta he simply has to walk, be it via a sacking or his own steam.

[Scary Bear]

Even if Scotland do have a poor start to the campaign and Strachan gets the boot, chances are we'll just be in the same vicious circle.

Manager starts campaign badly > manager leaves but campaign isn't salvageable > next manager comes in, no pressure for rest of campaign > next manager gets whole campaign but narrowly fails > next manager starts next campaign badly > repeat

Saying that, if 'next manager' sticks with the same players who've failed umpteen times then he probably deserves to go.

[BFTD]

I can't image Strachan, or any other manager, leaving even if we lose to Malta, purely because it's the first game. It would need a real hiding before that became an option, which surely isn't on the table.

Surely.

[Scary Bear]

I can't image Strachan, or any other manager, leaving even if we lose to Malta, purely because it's the first game. It would need a real hiding before that became an option, which surely isn't on the table.

Surely.

Exactly. They usually hang on for 4 or 5 games until the campaign is truly fucked.

[1320Lichtie]

Even if Scotland do have a poor start to the campaign and Strachan gets the boot, chances are we'll just be in the same vicious circle.

Manager starts campaign badly > manager leaves but campaign isn't salvageable > next manager comes in, no pressure for rest of campaign > next manager gets whole campaign but narrowly fails > next manager starts next campaign badly > repeat

Saying that, if 'next manager' sticks with the same players who've failed umpteen times then he probably deserves to go.

Same circle for as long as I can remember. We are just bottlers when it comes to the important game. Can't ever see that being broken whilst we have a group of ordinary players, it's like it's engrained into our mentality. Fans all knew what was coming in Georgia, players surely felt that way too as Scotland fans. We're a bunch of shitebags.

[Gordopolis]

37 minutes ago, BigFatTabbyDave said:

I can't image Strachan, or any other manager, leaving even if we lose to Malta, purely because it's the first game. It would need a real hiding before that became an option, which surely isn't on the table.

Surely.

The headlines are as good as written: "Scotland take a hiding in Malta - BigFatTabbyDave to blame."

[BFTD]

STRACHAN: WE WERE MAULED - TA FATTY!

[54_and_counting]

4 hours ago, Scary Bear said:

Saying that, if 'next manager' sticks with the same players who've failed umpteen times then he probably deserves to go.

But, but, they are the best we have apparently

[1320Lichtie]

But, but, they are the best we have apparently

There's no apparently about it

If you can tell us of better players that aren't in the squad apart from McCormack and Bardsley go ahead were all ears

[CM.]

Just now, 1320Lichtie said:

 

There's no apparently about it

If you can tell us of better players that aren't in the squad apart from McCormack and Bardsley go ahead were all ears

 

Didn't you know? All Scottish Sevco players should be in the squad. Even if one of them is a grass 

[54_and_counting]

2 minutes ago, 1320Lichtie said:

 

There's no apparently about it

If you can tell us of better players that aren't in the squad apart from McCormack and Bardsley go ahead were all ears

how do we know the current lot are the best when we dont try anyone else, only in scotland can we continue with repetitive failures because we are too scared to try something bold, out of strachans squad, how many have no caps, and how many with less than 10 caps will start the game?

it would be alright seeing the same faces if we were making progress but we arent, its arguable that we are getting worse given how the euros opened up more slots for teams and we still fucked it up

[54_and_counting]

8 minutes ago, C. Muir said:

Didn't you know? All Scottish Sevco players should be in the squad. Even if one of them is a grass 

predictable reply, ive never once asked for a rangers player to play, i have said however that a using the same players that have failed numerous times now is piss poor, we should try something bold, throw in a good few young players, let them learn in the deep end instead of this pish where they have 10 caps by the time they are late 20's

[TheScarf]

The best available players get picked.

[1320Lichtie]

how do we know the current lot are the best when we dont try anyone else, only in scotland can we continue with repetitive failures because we are too scared to try something bold, out of strachans squad, how many have no caps, and how many with less than 10 caps will start the game?

it would be alright seeing the same faces if we were making progress but we arent, its arguable that we are getting worse given how the euros opened up more slots for teams and we still fucked it up

Because players don't only play football for Scotland. They play for clubs too, when they do that you can judge them on ability you know...

Our best just hasn't been good enough.

Let's hear your 'bold' squad that would be an improvement on the one picked?

[1320Lichtie]

predictable reply, ive never once asked for a rangers player to play, i have said however that a using the same players that have failed numerous times now is piss poor, we should try something bold, throw in a good few young players, let them learn in the deep end instead of this pish where they have 10 caps by the time they are late 20's

They learn every single day with their clubs

International football isn't about developing players it's about playing the best players available

[54_and_counting]

2 minutes ago, 1320Lichtie said:

 

 

Because players don't only play football for Scotland. They play for clubs too, when they do that you can judge them on ability you know...

Our best just hasn't been good enough.

Let's hear your 'bold' squad that would be an improvement on the one picked?

its not the quad thats the issue, its the players that will likely play, strachan may well surprise us all and totally change his outlook, but im willing to bet the bookies wont give you odds on steven fletcher starting as our lone striker up front, hell maybe the players we have would thrive in a different system, who knows, we dont try anything different

[54_and_counting]

3 minutes ago, 1320Lichtie said:

 

 

They learn every single day with their clubs

International football isn't about developing players it's about playing the best players available

even if the best players arent getting regular game time with their clubs? even if one player is playing fantastically at a lower level than someone who is playing utter dug mince but one level higher

international football has added pressures coming from having to adapt to guys you dont regularly play for, having a country's pressure on your shoulders instead of simply a clubs fans etc, other countries arent afraid to try out their best potentials early, bed them in, get them used to it before they are relied on consistently, we dont, we wait until the very last minute before requiring someone then expecting them to adapt to the national side at a moments notice

 

[1320Lichtie]

its not the quad thats the issue, its the players that will likely play, strachan may well surprise us all and totally change his outlook, but im willing to bet the bookies wont give you odds on steven fletcher starting as our lone striker up front, hell maybe the players we have would thrive in a different system, who knows, we dont try anything different

Agree with that in a way. I hope to see a few changes come next Sunday. Would keep the system as it seems to be the best suited for international football but I would like to see Griffiths up top, I think it's just the perfect time to put him in personally, just turned 26, banging in the goals, Fletcher and Naismith are now no longer playing in the EPL and have gotten older.

Maybe Burke too although as mentioned Forrests form will make that more difficult and you'd think Snodgrass and Ritchie would be stick ons.

I'd maybe even like to see Patterson given a run. That's about it though, I think the squad overall is fine, personally would've had one of Caulker (if he wants too)/Cooper in, Bardsley, McCormack and even Callum McGregor.

Not sure it would make a huge difference though. The players selected are on the whole our best give or take depending on opinions. If they've failed then overhauling it with guys who are worse won't change anything.

[forameus]

8 minutes ago, 1320Lichtie said:

International football isn't about developing players it's about playing the best players available

 

 

Not strictly true.  It's about playing the best combination of players.  That won't necessarily be the best players in each position we have available.  Often these will be one and the same, and at present it's probably the case, but it's not always going to be a case that we just pick the 11 best players.  

[1320Lichtie]

even if the best players arent getting regular game time with their clubs? even if one player is playing fantastically at a lower level than someone who is playing utter dug mince but one level higher

international football has added pressures coming from having to adapt to guys you dont regularly play for, having a country's pressure on your shoulders instead of simply a clubs fans etc, other countries arent afraid to try out their best potentials early, bed them in, get them used to it before they are relied on consistently, we dont, we wait until the very last minute before requiring someone then expecting them to adapt to the national side at a moments notice

 

Like we waited with Fletcher? Or Scott Brown? Or Andy Robertson? Grant Hanley? Or John McGinn? Or Keiran Tierney? Kingsley? McKay? Patterson? Burke? All off the top of my head sure there's more. Our promising young guys do get chances and taken away with squads.