Scotland v Moldova/Belarus[R]

[Scottish_Morton]

Rab Douglas is out for both games with a heal injury and O'Conner, Fletcher, O'Neil and Quashie are doubtful. Good news is that there should be good crowd in, 36,000 tickets sold as of yesterday morning so it could be a sell-out.

I hope we attack Moldova, we can surely win this one.

My prediction: Scotland 2 Moldova 0

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Let's see who survives the week. :rolleyes:

[celtic76]

Aye Douglas being out for both games is a bit of a worry but like you said as long as the Scots are attacking the full 90 it should not be too difficult to walk away with all 6 points.
Scotland 3-0 Moldova
Scotland 2-1 Belarus :cool:

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Aye Douglas being out for both games is a bit of a worry

Not at all. All of our current NT keepers are equally bad as each other. :(

[Gordon EF]

Aye Douglas being out for both games is a bit of a worry but like you said as long as the Scots are attacking the full 90 it should not be too difficult to walk away with all 6 points.
Scotland 3-0 Moldova
Scotland 2-1 Belarus :cool:

I'd rather see Graig Gordon in goals anyway.

We really do have to beat Moldova, there can be no excuses. Belarus are a decent side though.

[footballkings redded]

Have not been paying attention to the world cup standings lately, have Scotland still got a realistic shot of the 2006 World Cup finals? Predictions:

Scotland 2 Moldova 0 Scotland 1 Belarus 2

[Scottish_Morton]

______P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Italy 5 4 0 1 9 5 4 12
2 Norway 5 2 2 1 6 3 3 8
3 Slovenia 5 2 2 1 5 4 1 8
4 Belarus 4 1 2 1 9 6 3 5
5 Scotland 4 0 2 2 1 4 -3 2
6 Moldova 5 0 2 3 1 9 -8 2

Realistically not much of a chance but now B*rti is gone there is a slim chance. We would have to win all our remaining games and at least draw with Italy and we could get a playoff place. Hopefully on saturday we will beat Moldova and Italy will beat Norway, which would leave us 3 points behind Norway with a game in hand over them. A draw between Belarus and Slovenia would be nice. Then a win against Belarus on Wednes day would leave the tablelike this:

1 Italy 6 15
2 Slovenia 6 9
3 Norway 6 8
4 Scotland 6 8
5 Belarus 6 6
6 Moldova 6 2

03 September 2005
Moldova v Belarus
Scotland v Italy
Slovenia v Norway

07 September 2005
Belarus v Italy
Moldova v Slovenia
Norway v Scotland

08 October 2005
Italy v Slovenia
Norway v Moldova
Scotland v Belarus

12 October 2005
Slovenia v Scotland
Belarus v Norway
Italy v Moldova

If the table looks like that after wednesday we have a good chance if we play at our best and have a bit of luck on our side. The good news in our group is that, Italy apart, everyone can easily take points off each other. If Scotland can get their act together they can make it.

Do I think they will make it? No :(

[Parkhead_Faithful]

Long injury list, should be able to beat both, but Id say all bets are off at the moment.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Do I think they will make it? No :(

Exactly. Cheers Berti... :mad:

[Burkies Ginger Mop]

Exactly. Cheers Berti... :mad:

I wish I had never looked at this thread! :mad:

Why is it my hopes always rise before a Scotland game even after all the times before and I quote.

“I finished watching that shower of sh1te!”

But no. I’ll be watching on Saturday. In Cambridge no less! Aw well if we get beat I can always take my anger out on some poofy English student types! :D

[Parkhead_Faithful]

Aw well if we get beat I can always take my anger out on some poofy English student types! :D


As it should be :)

[celtic76]

Gordon or Marshall between the sticks? Gordon really has not had a very good year but has the experience. Marshall has played in some big games and what he lacks in experince he makes up for in atletisim but makes small mental errors which Scotland cannot afford since they have placed themselves in this perdicment.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

All three (inc. Douglas) are inconsistant and prone to making stupid errors. Therefore call someone else up. I still vote for McKenzie.

[Scottish_Morton]

All three (inc. Douglas) are inconsistant and prone to making stupid errors. Therefore call someone else up. I still vote for McKenzie.

McKenzie? Yer havin' a laugh :D

Gordon is prone to errors but is very talented, Marshall is talented but has BIG weaknesses and makes mistakes. Marshall's most obvious weakness is his inability to deal with long shots, the guy has brilliant reflexes but doesn't have a clue where he's diving. He's needs another couple of years to sort out his game.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

He has been one of the most consistant keepers in the league over the last few seasons. He is a great shot stopped and good at crosses. In fact, he is a very well rounded keeper and is at the perfect age. Our young prospects are too young and inexperienced. We need a good keeper like McKenzie to steady the ship while we slowly blood the likes of Marshall and Gordon into the side.

[Scottish_Morton]

In do see your point...but i'd still prefer Craig Gordon.

So without Quashie, Naysmith, O'Conner, Douglas, Crawford and McNamee and with Fletcher rated 50/50 and O'Neil doubtful the team could look something like:

__________________Gordon/Marshall

Alexander/G Caldwell___Pressley/S Caldwell___Weir___McNamara

_________________(G Caldwell)

________Hartley___Ferguson___McCulloch

__________________(McFadden)

______________Miller___McFadden/Riordan

If that makes any sense at all. I think I just really don't know what the team will be. Hopefully Fletch will make it, Quashie will be a big miss already.

[SOCCERBEAST redded]

______P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Italy 5 4 0 1 9 5 4 12
2 Norway 5 2 2 1 6 3 3 8
3 Slovenia 5 2 2 1 5 4 1 8
4 Belarus 4 1 2 1 9 6 3 5
5 Scotland 4 0 2 2 1 4 -3 2
6 Moldova 5 0 2 3 1 9 -8 2

Realistically not much of a chance but now B*rti is gone there is a slim chance. We would have to win all our remaining games and at least draw with Italy and we could get a playoff place. Hopefully on saturday we will beat Moldova and Italy will beat Norway, which would leave us 3 points behind Norway with a game in hand over them. A draw between Belarus and Slovenia would be nice. Then a win against Belarus on Wednes day would leave the tablelike this:

1 Italy 6 15
2 Slovenia 6 9
3 Norway 6 8
4 Scotland 6 8
5 Belarus 6 6
6 Moldova 6 2

03 September 2005
Moldova v Belarus
Scotland v Italy
Slovenia v Norway

07 September 2005
Belarus v Italy
Moldova v Slovenia
Norway v Scotland

08 October 2005
Italy v Slovenia
Norway v Moldova
Scotland v Belarus

12 October 2005
Slovenia v Scotland
Belarus v Norway
Italy v Moldova

If the table looks like that after wednesday we have a good chance if we play at our best and have a bit of luck on our side. The good news in our group is that, Italy apart, everyone can easily take points off each other. If Scotland can get their act together they can make it.

Do I think they will make it? No :(


Who's taking over for Berti ?

[Scottish_Morton]

Walter Smith is the new manager (ex Rangers and Everton boss), his first game was the 2-0 defeat in Italy. We played much better and only conceeded from 2 great Pirlo free-kicks.

[Scottish_Morton]

Ryan Esson has been called up to replace Douglas although Marshall or Gordon will still start. Shows exactly what Wattie thinks of Roddy McKenzie!

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Esson? I'll have whatever Smith is on! :rolleyes: