Scotland U-21 Euro 2011 Qualification

[frasermc]

so here's our group opponents -

Austria
Belarus
Albania
Azerbaijan


10 group winners and the four best runners-up move on to the play-offs for the final tournament.

so it would seem we have a reasonable chance of getting into the play-offs.

Group schedules are yet to be released but the qualifying matches will start at the end of March.

this is the latest squad that Billy Stark has named for a get together next week -

Goalkeepers: Jamie Barclay (Falkirk) Scott Gallacher (Rangers) Alan Martin (Leeds United)

Defenders: Paul Caddis (Celtic), Brian Easton (Hamilton Academical), David Gray (Manchester United), Paul Hanlon (Hibernian), Jordan McMillan (Rangers), Jason Marr (Celtic) Chris Mitchell (Falkirk), Thomas Scobbie (Falkirk)

Midfielders: Scott Arfield (Falkirk), Barry Bannan (Aston Villa), Paul Coutts (Peterborough United), Kevin Kerr (DSC Arminia Bielefeld), Kevin McDonald (Burnley), Stephen McGinn (St. Mirren), Mark Millar (Celtic), Andrew Shinnie (Rangers), Lewis Stevenson (Hibernian)

Forwards: David Goodwillie (Dundee United), Rory Loy (Rangers), Chris Maguire (Aberdeen), Jamie Murphy (Motherwell), Mark Stewart (Falkirk).


we have the makings of a decent side. players such as Paul Caddis, Scott Arfield. Kevin McDonald, Lewis Stevenson and Chris Maguire offer hope. don't know a lot about Kevin Kerr but looking forward to seeing what he has to offer.

factor in others that could be involved like John Fleck and i think we have a decent to good chance of getting through this group.

[frasermc]

the U-21's start their qualification group with a match away to Albania this afternoon.

this is the squad -

Barclay - (Falkirk on loan to Berwick Rangers)
Gallacher (Rangers)
Martin - (Leeds on loan to Barrow)

Caddis (Celtic on loan to Dundee United)
Easton (Hamilton)
Hanlon (Hibernian)
Marr (Celtic)
Mitchell (Falkirk)
Scobbie (Falkirk)

Arfield (Falkirk)
Bannan (Aston Villa)
Fleck (Rangers)
McDonald (Burnley)
McGinn (St Mirren)
Shinnie (Rangers on loan to Dundee)
Stevenson (Hibernian)

Goodwillie (Dundee United)
Loy (Rangers on loan to Dunfermline)
Maguire (Aberdeen)
Murphy (Motherwell)



much like the full national squad the midfield area seems to be our strongest position. Arfield, Fleck and McDonald all have the quality to do well at this level and in this qualification group.

Caddis and Easton have the makings of a fantastic attacking full back pairing.

a little worried about the options up front but hopefully Billy Stark can start off the group with three points and go from strength to strength.

[frasermc]

the U-21's have taken a lead through a Chris Maguire penalty late in the game. hopefully they can bring home the three points.

[frasermc]

full time result.


Albania U-21's 0-1 Scotland U-21's


a perfect start for the u-21's Euro qualifying section.

now, if the full team can mimic that result tonight... ;)

[frasermc]

the u-21 team that started tonight in Albania -


Martin

Hanlon
Caddis
Scobbie
Mitchell

Arfield
Shinnie
McDonald
Bannan

Murphy
Goodwillie

Subs: Gallacher, Fleck, McGinn, Maguire, Loy, Gray, McAusland.


Billy Stark: "There were no failures for us. David Goodwillie and Jamie Murphy were full of running and led the line well, while Chris Maguire came on and finished the job off."

"It was a tough fixture to start the campaign and we had to work really hard, although we missed a few chances.

"Albania were a strong team and will cause problems for our other rivals."

[frasermc]

the u-21's are off to a great start after hammering Albania at the Falkirk stadium 5-2 to complete the double over them.


Scotland U-21's - 5

Goodwillie 10'
Maguire 51'
Shinnie 53'
Murphy 74'
McGinn 92'


Albania U-21's - 2

Hyka 72'
Vila 89'


team for tonights game -

Scotland U21 : Martin, Caddis, Hanlon, Arfield, Scobbie, Shinnie, Mitchell, McDonald, Bannan, Maguire, Goodwillie.

Subs: Gallacher, Murphy, McAusland, Gray, Fleck, McGinn, Loy.


Billy Stark and the boys have got off to a great start. their next match is away to Austria in September. pick up something from that game and they'll be well on the way to topping the group.

[frasermc]

some well worked goals and McGinn's back heel at the end was a peach.

[Gordon EF]

I caught a bit of the game and saw the goals, McGinn's was a cracker.

I can't say I've seen much of any of these guys. Has anybody seen them much and think that any of them could be capable of making the step up to the full side in the future?

There seems to be a lot of attention around Scott Arfield and Kevin McDonald seems like a good player but they're both centre mids and we're well covered in that area. Why do we produce a disproportionate number of good centre mids, I wish we could spread the talent around a bit more. The commentators were saying that Bannan had a good game on the left wing too.

[frasermc]

I can't say I've seen much of any of these guys. Has anybody seen them much and think that any of them could be capable of making the step up to the full side in the future?


Caddis has definitely got what it takes to make the step up in the future if he continues to develop at the rate he has been doing. either at right back or right mid. the latter would be better as Hutton should have the right back spot locked down for the forseeable future.

Arfield has always impressed me when i've seen him play for Falkirk. he says his standards have slipped a bit this season but he looks a really good player still.

i still think we're a little light in attacking options for the u-21's but the full team shouldn't be impacted on too badly as McCormack and Fletcher are becoming more prominent in the squad and the first 11.

[Bluesfan]

Really good results. Would be great to win a qualifying group outright and not rely on a second place bid.

[frasermc]

Really good results. Would be great to win a qualifying group outright and not rely on a second place bid.


the u-21 qualifiers are different. the winners of each group, along with the four best placed runners up, get paired up in a home and away playoff for the right to be one of the seven qualifiers for the tournament along with the host country.

[frasermc]

Scotlands U-21 squad to face Austria on Sept 5th in their EURO qualifier in Austria -


Goalkeepers
Jamie Barclay - Falkirk (on loan to East Stirling)
Scott Gallacher - Rangers
Alan Martin - Leeds United (on loan to Accrington Stanley)



Defenders
Paul Caddis - Celtic
Brian Easton - Burnley
David Gray - Manchester United
Paul Hanlon - Hibernian
Chris Mitchell - Falkirk
Ross Perry - Rangers
Thomas Scobbie - Falkirk



Midfielders
Scott Arfield - Falkirk
Barry Bannan - Aston Villa
Paul Coutts - Peterborough United
John Fleck - Rangers
Kevin McDonald - Burnley
Stephen McGinn - St Mirren



Forwards
David Goodwillie - Dundee United
Rory Loy - Rangers
Chris Maguire - Aberdeen
Jamie Murphy - Motherwell

[dhmf]

only one hibs player,suprised but when a look at are team a guess it makes sense, hope the next batch of youngsters coming through will be in the scotland set up soon

[frasermc]

The U-21's suffered a setback as they went down 1-0 away in Austria. The report on the BBC suggests the team were unlucky to lose the match. Hopefully they'll bounce back from this in their next match which is at home to Belarus in October.

[frasermc]

Ross Forbes(Motherwell) and David Wotherspoon(Hibernian) have been added to the U-21 squad to face Belarus on the 10th October.

Two good additions to the squad that now looks like this -


Goalkeepers

Jamie Barclay (Falkirk), Scott Gallacher (Rangers), Alan Martin (Leeds United)

Defenders

Paul Caddis (Celtic), Brian Easton (Burnley), David Gray (Manchester United), Paul Hanlon (Hibernian), Chris Mitchell (Falkirk), Ross Perry (Rangers), Thomas Scobbie (Falkirk)

Midfielders

Scott Arfield (Falkirk), Barry Bannan (Aston Villa), Paul Coutts (Peterborough United), John Fleck (Rangers), Ross Forbes (Motherwell), Kevin McDonald (Burnley), Stephen McGinn (St Mirren), David Wotherspoon (Hibernian)

Forwards

David Goodwillie (Dundee United), Rory Loy (Rangers), Chris Maguire (Aberdeen), Jamie Murphy (Motherwell)


It might not be long before we start seeing a couple of Aberdeen's promising youngsters such as Peter Pawlett and Michael Paton.

[chillum]

It might not be long before we start seeing a couple of Aberdeen's promising youngsters such as Peter Pawlett and Michael Paton.

I think Peter Pawlett is English. According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Pawlett) he was born in Hull.

Tried checking the official Aberdeen website for a profile but it seems to be down at the moment. I don't know though if he might qualify through other means.

[frasermc]

I think Peter Pawlett is English. According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Pawlett) he was born in Hull.

Tried checking the official Aberdeen website for a profile but it seems to be down at the moment. I don't know though if he might qualify through other means.


Another website I use for reference has him as Scottish. Tried to get on the official Aberdeen website this morning but it keeps crashing on me, so I suppose his nationality is up in the air at the minute.

[chillum]

The Aberdeen website is back up and contains little information.

His profile states that he is English. [Link] (http://www.afc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Squad/firstteamplayerprofile/0,,10284~43420,00.html)

On a slightly unrelated matter, the Victory Shield squad was announced. [Link] (http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=128&newsID=5075)

This name piqued my interest just because it was unusual:

Mohammed Yaqub (Celtic)

frasermc, know anything about him?

[frasermc]

The Aberdeen website is back up and contains little information.

His profile states that he is English. [Link] (http://www.afc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Squad/firstteamplayerprofile/0,,10284~43420,00.html)

On a slightly unrelated matter, the Victory Shield squad was announced. [Link] (http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=128&newsID=5075)

This name piqued my interest just because it was unusual:

Mohammed Yaqub (Celtic)

frasermc, know anything about him?


I think I've heard the name discussed on one or two forums. If it's who I think it is then he's been labelled as one to watch. Not a lot else I can say about him, if it is indeed who I think it is. There was also mention of his facebook page (ahh the wonders of the 21st century), with suggestions that he already has delusions of granduer and wishes to be playing with a higher profile club such as Manchester Utd.

[chillum]

For New Zealand, Destination Bahrain (http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/02/for-new-zealand-destination-bahrain/) - New York Times

Just readng this I only noticed in passing a familiar name, Michael McGlinchey. Turns out he'd decided to switch from Scotland to New Zealand and now has a shot at qualifying for the World Cup.