Who’s on the plane?

[No_Problemo]

1 minute ago, RandomGuy. said:

I don't think this is fair on him at all, and this "immobile number 10" myth seems to have been built up around him by Celtic fans who never liked him from the moment Motherwell went all sassy about their pathetic first transfer bid, and then Turnbulls general indifference to their entire club and clear intention to use them as a stepping stone.

Hes more athletic and impactful without the ball than hes credited for, as shown for Motherwell.

Cardiffs manager has stated his lack of minutes is due to him wanting to play a midfield that all know each others games exactly due to them slipping down the league then hitting a great run of form and him not wanting to change it.

I don’t think it’s a myth, it might be exaggerated but he definitely has an issue in terms of his athleticism - particularly at higher levels. He was also given a decent chance at the start of this season, and just never took his opportunity. 

I don’t recall Celtic fans not liking him because of that tbh, in fact I think most wanted him in the team quicker when Lennon was manager. 

[RandomGuy.]

1 minute ago, No_Problemo said:

I don’t think it’s a myth, it might be exaggerated but he definitely has an issue in terms of his athleticism - particularly at higher levels. He was also given a decent chance at the start of this season, and just never took his opportunity. 

He was averaging a goal every 96 minutes for Celtic this season, before leaving.

His time at Celtic came to end because Hatate and O'Riley are spectacular footballers and he couldn't get ahead of them, not because he wasn't good enough or mobile enough. 7 goals in ~700 minutes and I think about 11 starts.

[No_Problemo]

7 minutes ago, RandomGuy. said:

He was averaging a goal every 96 minutes for Celtic this season, before leaving.

His time at Celtic came to end because Hatate and O'Riley are spectacular footballers and he couldn't get ahead of them, not because he wasn't good enough or mobile enough. 7 goals in ~700 minutes and I think about 11 starts.

Three of his seven goals were penalties, and all came against sides in the bottom half - bar St Mirren. 

Ultimately he wasn’t good enough, as the guys in front of him are far better than he is - being why he has ended up at a mid table championship club. Hatate was also injured for large periods of time and several others played in front of him too. 

[craigkillie]

It seems clear to me Clarke had a look at Turnbull and didn't really fancy him, hence him basically disappearing from squads of late.

[craigkillie]

1 hour ago, bleedingums said:

 

posting this so folk can have a better look as probably don't see much MLS - especially with the time difference to Vancouver.

Fully appreciate concerns about the MLS as a league, but I'd say it's no worse than the Scottish Premiership. Also fully appreciated why he's not been involved up until now but I do think he could do a job. Added to that, he's good pals with a number of the squad already (albeit he'd possibly be replacing one of these in Armstrong) so shouldn't have any issues integrating quickly.

 

This is the biggest problem with Gauld for me, nobody actually knows how he's doing in general because we only ever see and hear about the good bits.

[2426255]

Isn't everyone jumping the gun? Maybe it moves guys like Brown and Jack closer depending on how their individuals injuries are progressing. Maybe Ryan Fraser. Turnbull and Gauld are still a bit away from a call up as far as I can see. Clarke suggested he would need to trim the number of midfielders down anyway from the 9 regular picks. 

Spoiler

Quote

In the midfield area, there are seven this time [Armstrong, Christie, Ferguson, Gilmour, McGinn McLean & McTominay]. Obviously, Ryan [Jack] and Callum [McGregor] would be strong candidates to join that, but I can’t see me taking nine midfield players. So that will be another decision for me to make.

Steve Clarke

https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/24181054.scotland-manager-set-disappoint-five-euro-2024-hopefuls/

[2426255]

3 hours ago, shivute said:

If you're looking toward MLS perhaps Lewis morgan comes into it??

I would like to also submit Luke McCowan, Blair Spittal, Mark O'Hara and Scott Wright for consideration. 

Edited April 21 by 2426255

[Grangemouth Bairn]

9 hours ago, craigkillie said:

This is the biggest problem with Gauld for me, nobody actually knows how he's doing in general because we only ever see and hear about the good bits.

Surely the fact he’s playing in the MLS isn’t an excuse for Clarke and his staff not knowing what’s going on with his form ?

[craigkillie]

18 minutes ago, Grangemouth Bairn said:

Surely the fact he’s playing in the MLS isn’t an excuse for Clarke and his staff not knowing what’s going on with his form ?

I'm talking about posters on here, it's Clarke's job to know so that's different.

[Mr. Brightside]

Does the MLS have any good defenders?

[Lurkst]

According to this report increasing squad sizes to 26 is being discussed by UEFA tomorrow...

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13117105/euro-2024-uefa-considering-squad-announcement-delay-amid-england-and-scotland-fixture-congestion

 

[Butters Scotch]

8 minutes ago, Lurkst said:

According to this report increasing squad sizes to 26 is being discussed by UEFA tomorrow...

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13117105/euro-2024-uefa-considering-squad-announcement-delay-amid-england-and-scotland-fixture-congestion

 

Clarke still won't pick Gauld so won't make a difference

[2426255]

34 minutes ago, Butters Scotch said:

Clarke still won't pick Gauld so won't make a difference

Must be disappointing for you Sand dancer. Being a Dundee United fan and all that.

Edited April 21 by 2426255

[No_Problemo]

9 hours ago, 2426255 said:

Isn't everyone jumping the gun? Maybe it moves guys like Brown and Jack closer depending on how their individuals injuries are progressing. Maybe Ryan Fraser. Turnbull and Gauld are still a bit away from a call up as far as I can see. Clarke suggested he would need to trim the number of midfielders down anyway from the 9 regular picks. 

  Reveal hidden contents

https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/24181054.scotland-manager-set-disappoint-five-euro-2024-hopefuls/

I don’t think so..

We currently only have three fit attacking midfielders that are regularly in the squad. I think all three will start against Germany so that leaves you with two spaces. 

Ryan Fraser should be one - but Brown hasn’t played since February and doesn’t look likely to play again this season. He isn’t in the Hickey position of being picked regardless of fitness. Jack hasn’t been seen since February either, no idea when he is due to return but he has barely managed to play this season. 

We all take the piss with the Ryan Gauld and club bias stuff, but I genuinely think there might be an actual debate now…

Edited April 21 by No_Problemo

[RandomGuy.]

11 hours ago, No_Problemo said:

Ultimately he wasn’t good enough, as the guys in front of him are far better than he is.

Being worse than Hatate/O'Riley != Not good enough to be Scotlands 7th/8th best attacking midfielder.

[No_Problemo]

Just now, RandomGuy. said:

Being worse than Hatate/O'Riley != Not good enough to be Scotlands 7th/8th best attacking midfielder.

You said he didn’t leave Celtic because he wasn’t good enough, I said he did - that was all. 

I imagine he would be around that number of Scotland attacking midfielders - McGinn, McTominay, Christie, Armstrong, Ferguson, Fraser, Cairney and then either Turnbull or Gauld. 

[2426255]

59 minutes ago, No_Problemo said:

We currently only have three fit attacking midfielders that are regularly in the squad. I think all three will start against Germany so that leaves you with two spaces. 

McGinn, McLean and Christie are currently fit and available. I understand that McTominay is close to returning from his recent absence from Man Utd, so that's four.

I assume you didn't include Kenny McLean in the midfielders who have played the advanced role. He is definitely one that's been used there. Started against France in the Christie role and is alongside Armstrong the most used player when we've been chasing the game. He's maybe the closest replacement for Lewis Ferguson and he's already a squad regular. 

I know people don't like it, but I think you have to assume Steve Clarke will only bring players into the fold if they improve us, are for the future or if he can't find a solution with the regular bunch. I think one more maybe plus Jack and we'd be covered sufficiently. That could be Fraser or it could just be Jacob Brown, both those shouts are reasonable - Gauld? I'm really not sure. 

Edited April 21 by 2426255

[craigkillie]

If Turnbull had gone down south and been remotely decent at Cardiff he'd be right in this conversation, but he appears to have done nothing since he got there.

[No_Problemo]

3 minutes ago, 2426255 said:

McGinn, McLean and Christie are currently fit and available. I understand that McTominay is close to returning from his recent absence from Man Utd, so that's four.

I assume you didn't include Kenny McLean in the midfielders who have played the advanced role. He is definitely one that's been used there. Started against France in the Christie role and is alongside Armstrong the most used player when we've been chasing the game. He's maybe the closest replacement for Lewis Ferguson and he's already a squad regular. 

I know people don't like it, but I think you have to assume Steve Clarke will only bring players into the fold if they improve us, are for the future or if he can't find a solution with the regular bunch. I think one more maybe plus Jack and we'd be covered sufficiently. That could be Fraser or it could just be Jacob Brown. That's where I am coming from basically.

Fair point about McLean - I hadn’t even considered him, which is strange on the face of it as he always was an attacking midfielder but doesn’t seem to play in that role for his club. And as you say, Clarke has used him there. 

[2426255]

14 minutes ago, No_Problemo said:

Fair point about McLean - I hadn’t even considered him, which is strange on the face of it as he always was an attacking midfielder but doesn’t seem to play in that role for his club. And as you say, Clarke has used him there. 

I think we're on the threshold. We can probably get by with what we normally have plus maybe Fraser or more likely Brown if he's fit. I'm not saying that's what should happen, but historically Clarke's Scotland always prefer to just get by with what's in the building. I think shouts for Ryan Gauld and the rest of the identity parade are premature.

Jack is still out, Brown is still out so it's assuming those guys prove their fitness. Does the squad size increasing to 26 change anything? It's a up in the air a little. The picture will settle closer to the tournament. No need for panic stations just yet.

Edited April 21 by 2426255