Skyline Drifter Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 21 minutes ago, MarkoRaj said: I just can't even comprehend how someone can watch him and think that He's only started 3 games this campaign and he's had 2 absolutely brilliant assists Not to mention his excellent link up play against Spain Nor I to be honest. Not sure if @Virtual Insanity is watching the right player. Big bloke, Australian accent, lot of tattoos? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Twelve Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 3 minutes ago, Skyline Drifter said: Yeah, not sure about this at all. Robertson, Tierney, McGregor and McGinn for sure. Grant Hanley is more of an automatic pick at this stage than Hickey is, and definitely more of an automatic pick than Gilmour is. Did you just forget about him because he's been out a while? I don't think Clarke's ever not picked him when fit. Hickey has made the right wing back slot his own in the last year with Patterson's injury problems but it's far from certain it won't swing back the other way. And until we know how good Craig Gordon will be on his return to fitness I'm not sure we're yet at a stage of saying Gunn's an automatic pick, though I'd accept he's done so well he maybe would be anyway, given Gordon's age. I'd imagine if Gordon doesn't think he'll be first pick for Scotland at this stage he'll retire internationally rather than trail across the continent to sit on the bench. In my defence I was just making some off-the-top-of-my-head chat but yes, I did forget about Hanley and you're probably right that he would be right in the team if fit. You can't be serious about Patterson ahead of Hickey though, surely? I like Patterson, but he's just not a good enough defender. I think the fact that Gunn's done so well means that Gordon's days are probably done, sadly. I'd love to be proven wrong on that score. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skyline Drifter Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 (edited) 12 minutes ago, Alan Twelve said: In my defence I was just making some off-the-top-of-my-head chat but yes, I did forget about Hanley and you're probably right that he would be right in the team if fit. You can't be serious about Patterson ahead of Hickey though, surely? I like Patterson, but he's just not a good enough defender. I think the fact that Gunn's done so well means that Gordon's days are probably done, sadly. I'd love to be proven wrong on that score. Patterson's not ahead of Hickey right now, no. He's not even starting for Everton right now. I'm not however dismissing the prospect of him winning his place back within the next season though. There's a big enough challenge to Hickey that whilst I'd definitely pick Hickey right now I'm not deeming him an automatic pick yet. Semantics maybe. I do wonder if there might eventually be an option to have Hickey do on the right of central defence what Tierney does on the left and play both of them. It's maybe a step too far to play only one specialist centre back though. Edited to add: If the "automatic pick" window was so short as to only allow for current form, then McTominay should certainly be in it too. Edited October 12, 2023 by Skyline Drifter 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkoRaj Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 I think Hanley will struggle to get back in as an automatic starter. Porteous-Hendry-Tierney is a good mix, particularly in build up phases. Maybe for games like tonight where we are under the cosh 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skyline Drifter Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 Just now, MarkoRaj said: I think Hanley will struggle to get back in as an automatic starter. Porteous-Hendry-Tierney is a good mix, particularly in build up phases. Maybe for games like tonight where we are under the cosh If he comes back to the same level he was before he's ahead of both Hendry and Porteous for me. He has a yard of pace they don't have and he's the anchor for the middle of the defence that neither Porteous nor Hendry really is. Like I say, Clarke's been pretty much unmoved on making him first centre back on the list since he got the job. However, he is coming 32 and has had a serious injury so I'll grant you there's a doubt about the level he will recover to and if he'll still have that yard. He's not going to kick a competitive ball in 2023 either. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lyle Lanley Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virtual Insanity Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 Intrigued by what people think Dykes' weaknesses are if he's a brilliant link up player with an excellent first touch? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Fifer Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 7 minutes ago, Virtual Insanity said: Intrigued by what people think Dykes' weaknesses are if he's a brilliant link up player with an excellent first touch? His only weakness is that he's almost TOO handsome. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skyline Drifter Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 2 minutes ago, Virtual Insanity said: Intrigued by what people think Dykes' weaknesses are if he's a brilliant link up player with an excellent first touch? Well his lack of goalscoring very obviously. His goals per game with Scotland isn't all that bad but his club record isn't good for a forward. He's scored once this season, though it was an absolute cracker. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkoRaj Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 Yeh he's a good link up player but not a great goalscorer. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrestersKTID Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 8 minutes ago, Virtual Insanity said: Intrigued by what people think Dykes' weaknesses are if he's a brilliant link up player with an excellent first touch? He’s just suited to international football. Hard working, physical and holds ball up well. Got a good return compared to a lot of Scotland strikers over the years . 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Blades Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 I’d be absolutely delighted to have any combination of results that mean we qualify tonight with fans in the stadium, it’ll be great to qualify by Norway slipping up but so much sweeter tonight. Added Rodri toys out the pram for the giggles please. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subtleapple Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 Anyone in Manchester watching this? Which boozer is good 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donathan Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 The more I think about it the more I think he’ll just make a single change from the team that won in Cyprus. Personally I’d go 4 at the back and also start Lyndon Dykes, but my prediction is: Gunn Porteous-Hendry-Cooper Hickey-Gilmour-McGregor-Robertson McTominay-McGinn Adams 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJF Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 (edited) Tierney is obviously a huge miss tonight but I’d argue if there is one game you could go without him then it’s this one. We will likely be soaking up intense pressure regardless and I’m not sure he would’ve had the freedom to step out of defence like he usually does as our midfield will be sitting deeper. I’m a bit of a Christie fanboy when it comes to Scotland and I think he is someone that could come in tonight and help get us up the pitch whilst applying pressure on Spain high up the park if Clarke chooses to do so. I predict a narrow loss but definitely in with a shout here. Edited October 12, 2023 by AJF 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Replays Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 Announce another comfortable result for Clarke’s XI. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 I have no hope for tonight. Would be surprised if we don't get blown away. Very pleasantly surprised. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Henry Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 36 minutes ago, PrestersKTID said: He’s just suited to international football. Hard working, physical and holds ball up well. Got a good return compared to a lot of Scotland strikers over the years . Just never let him take penalties ever again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuttonDressedAsLahm Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 (edited) That’s the two sides as they were in 2011. The change in that Spain team is quite incredible. We’ve hugely improved, but they starting XI isn’t as bad as we sometimes were. Edited October 12, 2023 by HuttonDressedAsLahm 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 3 minutes ago, HuttonDressedAsLahm said: That’s the two sides as they were in 2011. The change in both sides is quite incredible. Forgot Stevie Naismith had hair 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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