Scotland NT Thread

Discussion in 'Scotland' started by frasermc, Sep 6, 2013.

  1. frasermc

    frasermc Take your flunky and dangle

    Celtic
    Scotland
    Jul 28, 2006
    Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Scotland
    The U-21's have continued there dismal form (after the 6-0 thrashing by England) with a 4-0 defeat to the Dutch in a Euro qualifier.

    All the goals came in a 2nd half capitulation. We opened the qualifying group with a 6-0 victory over Luxembourg U-21's but this result is a far cry from the last time the two u-21 teams met on Dutch soil.

    Hopefully Billy Stark can turn things around sharpish. There may be a shortage of quality coming through at the minute, especially in defense. In attacking terms we have the likes of McGeough, Fraser and Watt in the team so there is the potential to score goals, as proved in the first match in the group, albeit against far weaker opposition.
     
  2. frasermc

    frasermc Take your flunky and dangle

    Celtic
    Scotland
    Jul 28, 2006
    Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Scotland
    Scotland - Belgium | Hampden Park | 8pm KO


    Teams from ...


    Scotland

    Goalkeepers: Matt Gilks (Blackpool), David Marshall (Cardiff City), Craig Samson (Kilmarnock)

    Defenders: Ikechi Anya (Watford), Gordon Greer (Brighton and Hove Albion), Grant Hanley (Blackburn Rovers), Alan Hutton (Aston Villa), Russell Martin (Norwich City), Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic), Lee Wallace (Rangers), Steven Whittaker (Norwich City)

    Midfielders: Charlie Adam (Stoke City), Barry Bannan (Crystal Palace), Scott Brown (Celtic), Craig Bryson (Derby County), Chris Burke (Birmingham City), Craig Conway (Cardiff City), James Forrest (Celtic), Shaun Maloney (Wigan Athletic), James McArthur (Wigan Athletic), Robert Snodgrass (Norwich City), Kevin Thomson (Hibernian)

    Forwards: Leigh Griffiths (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Jamie Mackie (Nottingham Forest), Ross McCormack (Leeds United), Steven Naismith (Everton), Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers)


    Belgium

    Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels (1899 Hoffenheim), Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool)

    Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Atletico Madrid), Laurent Ciman (Standard Liege), Guillaume Gillet (Anderlecht), Nicolas Lombaerts (Zenit St Petersburg), Sebastien Pocognoli (Hannover 96), Jelle Van Damme (Standard Liege), Daniel Van Buyten (Bayern Munich), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur)

    Midfielders: Zakaria Bakkali (PSV Eindhoven), Nacer Chadli (Tottenham Hotspur), Moussa Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur), Kevin De Bruyne (Chelsea), Steven Defour (Porto), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Dries Mertens (Napoli), Timmy Simons (Club Brugge), Axel Witsel (Zenit St Petersburg)

    Forwards: Christian Benteke (Aston Villa), Romelu Lukaku (Everton), Kevin Mirallas (Everton)



    Any result against this Belgium side would be a bonus. I don't think we're good enough defensively to keep them out so it's going to put a lot of pressure on the attacking players to both create chances and take the opportunities when they are presented.
     
  3. Scottish_Morton

    Jul 7, 2003
    Irvine, Scotland
    The team last night had a couple of 17 year olds in the defence. It was a far cry from the line-up a couple of years ago, which was far more experienced and had the likes of Danny Wilson, Tom Cairney, James Forrest, and Jordan Rhodes in it (with Russell, Allan, and Griffiths on the bench as well). Very much an u21 side in transition (although I think your point about a lack of defensive quality coming through still stands).
     
  4. frasermc

    frasermc Take your flunky and dangle

    Celtic
    Scotland
    Jul 28, 2006
    Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Scotland
    #4 frasermc, Sep 6, 2013
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2013
    It's a worrying trend as it is has been blighting the full team as well recently.

    Many things in football seem to adopt a cyclical nature but defensively we're a far cry from the days when we could choose a CB pairing from Hansen, McLeish, Miller, Hegarty, Narey etc.

    Maybe it will come full circle again in time.
     
  5. Scottish_Morton

    Jul 7, 2003
    Irvine, Scotland
    It's quite scary how much we miss a Davie Weir in his late 30s. Hanley and Wilson look like decent prospects, but it's a long way from the sort of quality that we really need back there. It was a shame that John Kennedy was robbed of his career, there hasn't been a good centre-half come through in the last 15 years or more.
     
  6. frasermc

    frasermc Take your flunky and dangle

    Celtic
    Scotland
    Jul 28, 2006
    Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Scotland
    Comprehensive defeat, as expected I suppose. Clear to see that Belgium are a far superior side to us at this minute in time. I do believe Gordon Strachan is making steps in the right direction (wouldn't go so far as to say strides...) but he is always going to be hampered with the pool of players available and the amount of call-offs we have on a routine game-by-game basis. I sometimes wonder if other national teams have a similar issue in this respect. Obviously every team gets call offs but do they have them in the same consistent numbers as us...?

    As for the match James Forrest wasn't at the races. Griffiths was starved of service. Snodgrass always seems to be one crazy second away from a red card whilst playing in a Scotland jersey. And although he is still (fairly) young, I cannot for the life of me, see Grant Hanley developing into a decent CB of international standard.
     
  7. frasermc

    frasermc Take your flunky and dangle

    Celtic
    Scotland
    Jul 28, 2006
    Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Scotland
  8. frasermc

    frasermc Take your flunky and dangle

    Celtic
    Scotland
    Jul 28, 2006
    Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Scotland
    Macedonia 1-2 Scotland (Anya & Maloney)

    The positivity vibe continues to increase under Gordon Strachan's stewardship. Admittedly I did not see the full 90mins tonight as I'm currently in enemy territory(Watford) on a work assignment. But the highlights I did see cheered me up no end.

    The goals were good. The Tartan Army will be desperate to see more of Ikechi Anya in a Scotland jersey. His display tonight was the polar opposite of James Forrest's on Friday. Obviously James was up against far stronger opposition and will surely turn in far better performances for the national team which, in turn, gives us hope of a genuine, balanced threat from both wings in future internationals.

    Maloney hit a peach of a free kick as well.

    But what pleased me more than anything else from the highlights I witnessed was the amount of chances we created. So many times in the recent past you could count on one hand the amount of decent, and I don't mean genuine goal scoring opportunities, just decent chances we would create in 90mins. Tonight there was an abundance of them.

    Onwards and upwards for us (and hopefully the co-efficient as well with Euro '16 qualifiers on the horizon).

    I heard on the radio driving down earlier that a UK based journalist (no idea which one) had suggested that N.Ireland were as good as Scotland these days. Really...?
     
  9. YankHibee

    YankHibee Member+

    Mar 28, 2005
    indianapolis
    I've gotta admit, I haven't even heard of half the nationals these days. Some of that, I'm sure, is because I'm out of the loop. Some of that, I'm sure, is because they aren't good.
     
  10. Scottish_Morton

    Jul 7, 2003
    Irvine, Scotland
    I'm hoping that the games against the US and Norway don't turn out to be friendlies in which we have very few players left to pick from. McGregor and Maloney are already ruled out, Snodgrass was also knocked out pretty hard against Man Utd last night. If we get the usual collections of call-offs from players carrying slight knocks (and with bigger fish to fry at this point in the domestic season), then we could be in trouble.

    Darren Fletcher is back in full traning and played over an hour for the reserves the other night. I wouldn't be surprised to see him back in the squad, even if he's not quite ready to play yet. Steven Fletcher was also back playing at the weekend, but as he's made of glass I won't be counting my chickens on that one.

    Hopefully the back 4 who played in the Croatia match will be able to play together again. If Snodgrass is out and S Fletcher is fit then it would be good to see the same team with Naismith moving back one position and Fletcher coming in up front (with Marshall in goals).
     
  11. Scottish_Morton

    Jul 7, 2003
    Irvine, Scotland
    Squad for USA and Norway matches:

    Goalkeepers:

    Scott Fox (Partick Thistle)
    Matt Gilks (Blackpool)
    David Marshall (Cardiff City)

    Defenders:

    Christophe Berra (Ipswich Town)
    Gordon Greer (Brighton and Hove Albion)
    Grant Hanley (Blackburn Rovers)
    Alan Hutton (Aston Villa)
    Russell Martin (Norwich City)
    Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic)
    Lee Wallace (Rangers)
    Steven Whittaker (Norwich City)

    Midfielders:

    Charlie Adam (Stoke City)
    Ikechi Anya (Watford)
    Barry Bannan (Crystal Palace)
    Scott Brown (Celtic)
    Craig Bryson (Derby County)
    Chris Burke (Birmingham City)
    James Forrest (Celtic)
    James Morrison (WBA)
    James McArthur (Wigan Athletic)
    Robert Snodgrass (Norwich City)
    Matt Phillips (QPR)

    Forwards:

    Steven Fletcher (Sunderland)
    Steven Naismith (Everton)
    Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers)

    Allan McGregor, Darren Fletcher, and Shaun Maloney not fit. Graham Dorrans, George Boyd, and Ross McCormack drop out from the last squad.
     
  12. frasermc

    frasermc Take your flunky and dangle

    Celtic
    Scotland
    Jul 28, 2006
    Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Scotland
    Hard to get excited about a friendly against Norway but even these games count with respect to international points tables and groupings for future tournaments.

    With that in mind I'd like to see GS put out a strong team but would also like players such as Rhodes to be given a start. A difficult balancing act to achieve.

    Furthermore I am continually gutted to see young Scottish players who had/have the possibility of blossoming into good club and international players stagnating in the English championship. Paul Dixon at Huddersfield immediately springs to mind.
     
  13. frasermc

    frasermc Take your flunky and dangle

    Celtic
    Scotland
    Jul 28, 2006
    Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Scotland
    Two clean sheets is a bonus in the friendlies although we did ride our luck last night.

    Still not sure on the central area at the back and we need to have someone challenging Hutton at RB.

    I thought both Brown (before his goal) and Adam were particularly poor in the middle of the park. Snodgrass couldn't get into the game in an advanced role. I like Bannan. He's tidy and tries to retain possession as much as possible but he's no good stuck on the right side of midfield. He hasn't got the defensive discipline to play there. Far better to put Snodgrass on the right (where he plays for his club) and move Bannan into a central area. At least then we may have more ball retention and actually start to threaten the opposition more when we are in possession.

    Marshall looked good. Naismith did well in the lone striker role as well.

    Hopefully the results from the past two matches can propel us further up the FIFA rankings for the Euro's draw in February (i think) '14
     
  14. Waliatiger

    Waliatiger Member+

    Jul 1, 2013
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    I know the old firm and the Scottish domestic league clearly ranks 1st to concern on here and in Scotland but why the complete disregard or attention to the Scottish NT? I know there has been over a decade of hard times for the NT but other then the tartan army it seems like the populace as a whole have ignored them why is that....
     
  15. frasermc

    frasermc Take your flunky and dangle

    Celtic
    Scotland
    Jul 28, 2006
    Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Scotland
    They're not ignored.

    We have not qualified for the World Cup and there are only a few actual Scottish members on BS so the national team thread generally lies dormant until an important qualifier arrives on the scene. Due to the Craig Levein debacle important qualifiers were a thing of the past after the first 3 matches of World cup qualifying.

    This thread won't gather much interest until the qualifying for the Euro's begins.
     
  16. Gordon EF

    Gordon EF Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jan 15, 2004
    Edinburgh
    Pretty tasty draw for the Euro 2016 qualifiers.

    I'm fairly confident of getting a top 3 place at least. Thank God we've got a proper manager now though. It's nice to head in to a series of games with some enthusiasm instead of a heady mix of apathy, trepidation and embarrassment.
     
  17. frasermc

    frasermc Take your flunky and dangle

    Celtic
    Scotland
    Jul 28, 2006
    Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Scotland
    Very true but it will be a tough ask to get that 2nd spot. Poland are still on the up. I'm not sure we have a CB that could handle Lewandowski. I would hope we would strive to try and become more possession orientated therefore limiting his impact in the matches between us.

    Ireland are on a downward spiral although both matches will still be tough encounters.
     
  18. frasermc

    frasermc Take your flunky and dangle

    Celtic
    Scotland
    Jul 28, 2006
    Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Scotland
    New Scotland Away Kit


    [​IMG]

    Words fail me...
     
  19. Borussia

    Borussia Member+

    Jun 5, 2006
    Fürth near Nuremberg
    Club:
    Borussia Mönchengladbach
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany

    Nice Rugby shirts. :D


    Btw: Germany, Ireland and Scotland in the same Euro qualifier group ... mamma mia, that's getting very exciting games for me. ;)
     
  20. frasermc

    frasermc Take your flunky and dangle

    Celtic
    Scotland
    Jul 28, 2006
    Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Scotland
    Regardless of what GS says, or how close he keeps his cards to his chest, the Poland friendly tonight takes on extra significance now after the Euro 2016 draw.

    Goalkeepers: Matt Gilks (Blackpool), David Marshall (Cardiff City), Allan McGregor (Hull City)

    Defenders: Phil Bardsley (Sunderland), Christophe Berra (Ipswich Town), Gordon Greer (Brighton and Hove Albion), Alan Hutton (Aston Villa), Russell Martin (Norwich City), Andrew Robertson (Dundee United), Steven Whittaker (Norwich City)

    Midfielders: Charlie Adam (Stoke City), Ikechi Anya (Watford), Barry Bannan (Crystal Palace), Scott Brown (Celtic), Chris Burke (Birmingham City), Darren Fletcher (Manchester United), James Forrest (Celtic), James Morrison (West Bromwich Albion), Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic)

    Forwards: Steven Fletcher (Sunderland), Leigh Griffiths (Celtic), Ross McCormack (Leeds United), Steven Naismith (Everton)


    We're in excellent condition in the GK department. Still seriously lacking in defence. I'd blood Robertson to see how he performs at this level. I'd be inclined to give him as much time in friendlies now before the real stuff starts.

    Midfield is also reasonably healthy and I would be looking for Griffiths and Naismith to maybe get 45mins each, unless GS starts Naismith behind Griffiths in the hole, or out wide.


    Goalkeepers: Artur Boruc (Southampton), Lukasz Fabianski (Arsenal), Wojciech Szczesny (Arsenal)

    Defenders: Tomasz Brzyski (Legia Warsaw), Piotr Celeban (Vaslui), Kamil Glik (Torino), Artur Jedrzejczyk (Krasnodar), Marcin Komorowski (Terek Grozny), Igor Lewczuk (Zawisza Bydgoszcz), Lukasz Piszczek (Borussia Dortmund), Lukasz Szukala (Steaua Bucharest), Maciej Wilusz (Belchatow)

    Midfielders: Tomasz Jodlowiec (Legia Warsaw), Mateusz Klich (Zwolle), Grzegorz Krychowiak (Stade Reims), Michal Maslowski (Zawisza Bydgoszcz), Ludovic Obraniak (Werder Brema), Michal Pazdan (Jagiellonia Bialystok), Slawomir Peszko (Koln), Eugen Polanski (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), Maciej Rybus (Terek Grozny), Waldemar Sobota (Club Brugge)

    Forwards: Arkadiusz Milik (Augsburg), Marcin Robak (Pogon Szczecin), Luke Teodorczyk (Lech Poznan)


    The Poles are also well stocked between the sticks but may also be suffering from a lack of quality at the back.


    Could we be involved in a high scoring slugout?? :eek:
     
  21. frasermc

    frasermc Take your flunky and dangle

    Celtic
    Scotland
    Jul 28, 2006
    Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Scotland
    Poland 0-1 Scotland

    Another Scott Brown screamer from the edge of the box gives us another 1-0 away win against good quality opposition.

    Can't argue with that although we were behind on possession and most attacking stats (shots at goal, shots on goal, corners) which would suggest we are carrying an element of luck at this minute in time. Not before time but I'd prefer we saved some of it for the qualifying matches that really matter rather than friendlies.

    I'm not complaining though! Nice to see us starting to pick up wins again. Builds confidence in the players and the support.

    I only watched brief highlights so can't get a handle on how good any individual performances were.
     
  22. justboy

    justboy Member

    Jun 21, 2005
    Portland, OR
    Club:
    Portland Timbers
    Nat'l Team:
    Scotland
    only to be brought crashing back down to reality when the real matches begin.
     
  23. frasermc

    frasermc Take your flunky and dangle

    Celtic
    Scotland
    Jul 28, 2006
    Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Scotland
    Squad for our opening qualifier for Euro 2016 which, as we are all no doubt aware, is away to the World Champions. Just how we like it!


    Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon (Celtic), David Marshall (Cardiff City), Alan McGregor (Hull City)

    Defenders: Mark Reynolds (Aberdeen), Craig Forsyth (Derby County), Gordon Greer (Brighton and Hove Albion), Grant Hanley (Blackburn Rovers), Alan Hutton (Aston Villa), Russell Martin (Norwich City), Andrew Robertson (Hull City), Steven Whittaker (Norwich City)

    Midfielders: Ikechi Anya (Watford), Barry Bannan (Crystal Palace), Craig Bryson (Derby County), Chris Burke (Nottingham Forest), Graham Dorrans (West Bromwich Albion), Darren Fletcher (Manchester United), Shaun Maloney (Wigan Athletic), James McArthur (Wigan Athletic), Kevin McDonald (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Callum McGregor (Celtic), James Morrison (West Bromwich Albion), Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic)

    Forwards: Steven Fletcher (Sunderland), Chris Martin (Derby County), Steven Naismith (Everton)


    Considering our usual injury list (Snodgrass, Brown, Forrest, Armstrong) and the players who didn't make the cut (I'm looking at the £11m man primarily) we're starting to look like we have the makings of a decent squad again although the defence and the middle of the defence in particular gives me the shivers.

    On current form I'd have McGregor between the sticks. Probably Hutton and Robertson on the flanks and Martin +1 in the middle.

    Great to have Darren Fletcher back again. A massive boost for the team and the squad. I hope GS partners him with McArthur in the middle of the park rather than Mulgrew. If needs be he could look to play Charlie next to Martin at the back. Too soon for McGregor on the flanks. Anya hasn't let us down so far and deserves one of the spots with Dorrans on the other side possibly...? Again, Mulgrew could possibly be a better option on the left, giving cover in front of Robertson and allowing him to storm up and down the left flank without fear of leaving us too open.

    Naismith to play just behind Fletcher up front.


    Looking forward to the match. Nothing to lose. Our battle is with the other teams in the group and not with the Germans.
     
    panicfc repped this.
  24. Jamooky

    Jamooky Member+

    Mar 24, 2006
    Cleveland, OH USA
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Frankly, I'm surprised that Craig Gordon got called in so soon after resuming his career. He hasn't looked all that sharp so far this season.
     
  25. Pedro's greasy do

    Nov 7, 2008
    London
    Club:
    Glasgow Rangers FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Scotland
    frasermc repped this.

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