Scotland vs Iceland 01/04/09 Match thread

[Gordon EF]

This is a must win game now. Not only do we have to take 2nd place in this group but we have to accumulate enough points to ensure we make the play-offs. It's certainly not going to be a walk over, few games are these days for us but it's one we should be well capable of winning and we've already beaten them in Iceland.

This is the team I'd go for...

_______________Gordon_______________
Hutton___Caldwell___McManus__Whittaker
_____D.Fletcher__Ferguson__Brown______
__McCormack_____Miller_____S.Fletcher__

McGregor wasn't at really at fault in Amsterdam but Craig Gordon is one of our few genuinely class players and should be playing if he's fit enough.

Same with Berra, a couple of mistakes aside, he played well enough against Holland but if McManus is fit he should be back in the side with Caldwell at the back. Hutton's a huge player for us and offers so much more than Alexander. Naysmith is looking more past it with every game and I think we should go for someone who offers more of an attacking threat in the full back position. Whittaker would give us that.

The midfield three kind of picks itself, although I'm still not 100% sold on Ferguson. But Brown and Fletcher are key players and it makes sense to fit these 3 into the middle.

Our attacking options aren't too great. The wide players will obviously play in a much more advanced role than in Holland, which should suit Ross McCormack, who showed promise, and negate the apparent need for Gary Teale in the starting 11. Miller wasted the only chance he had in Holland (and it was a great one) but he's still the top international scorer we have in the squad and I'd stick by him. Difficult to pick who's on the left, James Morrison would be a good shout, but since I'd rather it was a straight 4-3-3, I'd go for more of an attacking player and give Steven Fletcher a chance.

[frasermc]

----------------------------------- McGregor -------------------------------

Hutton ---------------- Caldwell --------------- McManus ---------- Naysmith

---- Brown -------- Fletcher --------------------- Ferguson ----- Morrison ---

--------------------- McCormack -------------- Fletcher --------------------



if Commons was fit then i'd have went with him on the right and moved Brown into the middle and dropped Ferguson but i'm aware that wouldn't have had a chance in hell of happening but it's the team i would have picked.

as is, i'm happy with McGregor in goal. i agree that Gordon is the better keeper but his lack of first team football is detrimental to his cause. after reflection it would appear that McGregor wasn't at fault for any of the goals we lost in Amsterdam. he looked solid enough on all other occasions and with playing for Rangers he's used to long periods of inactivity followed by brief, hopefully very brief on Wednesday, flurries of action.

Naysmith struggled in Holland but what full back wouldn't have? neither Teale nor McCormack offered much in the way of support defensively against the Dutch and his forward forays were always going to be severely limited. i'm not a Whittaker fan as a full back. maybe he could play in front of Hutton on the right. they could make a good combo. i like his attacking instincts but he's a train wreck as a full back. i still think Naysmith has enough in the tank for the Iceland match.

with Hutton at right back Brown can naturally drift inside and leave more room for the Tottenham full back to exploit. Morrison is a far better option than Teale on the left and should have been used in the Amsterdam Arena.

McCormack did more than enough to justify a start on Wednesday and deserves to have a go up front. Fletcher looked lively enough when he came on and the two of them progressed through the u-21's at the same time so they should have some sort of understanding if paired up front together. as for Kenny Miller, he's served his country well in the past, no doubt about that. but i just don't have any trust in him anymore if given a clear cut chance in front of goal.

[camerondocherty]

if we dont take 3 points then roll on euro 2012.

[The Tartan Hoop]

What happened to this McEveley (spelling?) Scottish left back that was touted with a chance. Call him up, better than a has been or walter smith choice. (as in playing out of position)

[Pedro's greasy do]

Fraser I'm with you on this. Get Kenny Miller to ********. He's bloody awful. Teale and Alexander as well. These guys are our weak links.

Also I hope someone has a word with Fletcher about his sloppy passing for Scotland. The amount of times he gave the ball away! Far too much. I'd like to see him and Ferguson stepping it up on Wednesday.

[frasermc]

Get Kenny Miller to ********. He's bloody awful. Teale and Alexander as well. These guys are our weak links.


no worries on the Alexander score. he's picked up an injury and won't feature at all tomorrow night. Iwelumo is doubtful as well. things are looking up.

[Gordon EF]

no worries on the Alexander score. he's picked up an injury and won't feature at all tomorrow night. Iwelumo is doubtful as well. things are looking up.

Let's hope Gary Teal doesn't fall down a flight of stairs or drop something heavy on his foot.:rolleyes:

[YankHibee]

How is Iceland's squad looking?

[frasermc]

How is Iceland's squad looking?


GK
Arni Gautur Arason (Odd Grenland,NOR) 66/0
Gunnleifur Gunnleifsson (FC Vaduz,LIE) 7/0

DF
Hermann Hreidarsson (Portsmouth, ENG) 83/5
Indridi Sigurdsson (SFK Lyn Oslo,NOR) 43/1
Kristjan Orn Sigurdsson (SK Brann,NOR) 35/2
Gretar Rafn Steinsson (Bolton,ENG) 30/4
Bjarni Olafur Eiriksson (Valur) 11/0
Ragnar Sigurdsson (1FK Goteborg,SWE) 11/0
Solvi Geir Ottessen (SonderjskE, DEN) 4/0

MF
Brynjar Bjorn Gunnarsson (Reading,ENG) 68/4
Emil Hallfredsson (Reggiana,ITA) 22/1
Birkir Mar Saevarsson (SK Brann,NOR) 14/0
Aron Einar Gunarsson (Coventry City,ENG) 10/0
Palmi Rafn Palmason (Stabaek IF,NOR) 10/0
Helgi Valur Danielsson (IF Elfsborg,SWE) 9/0
Theodor Elmar Bjarnason (SFK Lyn Oslo,NOR) 9/0
Eggert Gunthor Jonsson (Hearts,SCO) 2/0
Johann Berg Gudmundsson (AZ, HOL) 2/0

FW
Eidur Smari Gudjohnsen (FC Barcelona,SPA) 56/23
Heidar Helguson (QPR,ENG) 43/8
Veigar Pall Gunnarsson (Nancy, FRA) 25/3
Arnor Smarason (SC Heerenveen, HOL) 4/1


that was the squad they called on the 24th March for the Scotland match.

Birkir Mar Saevarsson, Heidar Helguson and Brynjar Björn Gunnarsson have all since dropped out.


Arason is their usual keeper and he plays in Norway. their league has just started. Hreidarsson and Steinsson are regulars in the EPL for their clubs. Hreidarsson is getting on a bit though. could be a weak link.

Hallfredsson plays for Reggina in Italy but he isn't a regular starter by any means. Gunarsson is a long throw expert a la Rory Delap. Gudmundsson plays for AZ who top the table in Holland but he's only 18 and hasn't appeared for them at all yet.

you know all about Gudjohnsen. Gunnarsson can't get a game for Nancy. Smarason is only 20 but has been doing fairly well with Heerenveen this season so far.


lets be honest. without being up ourselves, if we don't defeat Iceland tomorrow then George is going bye-byes and deservedly so. but i don't think it will come to that.

[The Tartan Hoop]

Seems Ferguson and McGregor have been dropped.

Things ARE looking up!! :eek:

[Pedro's greasy do]

Seems Ferguson and McGregor have been dropped.

Things ARE looking up!! :eek:

Could be interesting. Personally I do not think Ferguson had a great game the other night. But he was disciplined. The one thing I worry about without him there is Fletcher and Brown’s passing. Brown had a pretty good game but Fletcher was worse than Ferguson. His passing was very sloppy.

This could go either way. Either we will be awful in possession or not having Fergie there might release Brown and Fletcher.

[Parkhead_Faithful]

Broke curfew to be on the piss it seems, talk about a lack of self-discipline not to mention from the captain and a guy trying to win the number 1 jersey, smack bang in the middle of back to back world cup qualifiers. Incidentally isnt this the type of thing Le Guen went mental at when he was at rangers? I suspect its tolerated there.

Dropping them is the only action but it isnt half a kick in the stones to an already depleted team. Looks like Teale is heading for a start again.

Hoping this is some kind of nationwide april fools, but thats optimistic.

[Scottish_Morton]

It's the Walter Smith's Rangers Mentality; players can do whatever they want between matches. For the captain of the national side to be setting this kind of example is unacceptable. I don't imagine Ferguson, in particular, will get a very pleasant reception tonight.

[Pedro's greasy do]

It's the Walter Smith's Rangers Mentality; players can do whatever they want between matches. For the captain of the national side to be setting this kind of example is unacceptable. I don't imagine Ferguson, in particular, will get a very pleasant reception tonight.

If it's true then they deserve to be dropped. We really need to win tonight.

[Scottish_Morton]

If it's true then they deserve to be dropped. We really need to win tonight.

I'd be happy for them not to play, I wouldn't have picked them anyway. Gordon is obviously our best 'keeper, and playing all 3 of Brown, Fletch and Ferguson just doesn't work.

Team tonight should be:

______________Gordon

Hutton___Caldwell___McManus___Naysmith

Morrison___Brown___Fletcher___Fletcher

_______McCormack___Miller

We have better players than they do, lets show it by having a go at them!

[Pedro's greasy do]

I'd be happy for them not to play, I wouldn't have picked them anyway. Gordon is obviously our best 'keeper, and playing all 3 of Brown, Fletch and Ferguson just doesn't work.

Team tonight should be:

______________Gordon

Hutton___Caldwell___McManus___Naysmith

Morrison___Brown___Fletcher___Fletcher

_______McCormack___Miller

We have better players than they do, lets show it by having a go at them!

Fletcher was a shocker the other night though. How many times did he give the ball away and he was at fault for the second goal. He really needs to step it up for Scotland.

[Gordon EF]

Fletcher was a shocker the other night though. How many times did he give the ball away and he was at fault for the second goal. He really needs to step it up for Scotland.

On the other hand, he made a fantastic pass for Kenny Miller's ********ed up chance. I'd have Fletch and Brown in before Ferguson. I'm not too unhappy about either missing player. If these Rangers players can't be arsed playing for Scotland or showing the slightest bit of discipline, ******** them.

[Pedro's greasy do]

On the other hand, he made a fantastic pass for Kenny Miller's ********ed up chance. I'd have Fletch and Brown in before Ferguson. I'm not too unhappy about either missing player. If these Rangers players can't be arsed playing for Scotland or showing the slightest bit of discipline, ******** them.

It’s a tough call. Without Ferguson it might just release Fletcher and Brown to play at a higher pace. We’ll find out tonight. It’s a test for Fletcher if he does not as he will need to step up and I though he made far too many mistakes on Sat.

Anyway hopefully it’s the correct choice and we get the win tonight.

[Gordon EF]

Starting line-ups.....

4-4-2

Gordon

Hutton
Caldwell
McManus
Naysmith

McCormack
D. Fletcher
Brown
Morrison

Miller
S. Fletcher

Looks good to me, very attacking.

[Gordon EF]

1-0 Scotland.

Finally the break through. Alan Hutton rips the Iclandic left back to bitsad cuts theball back to Ross McCormack who smacks in a beautiful first time right foot shot. We've not had it all our own way but we deserve this.