squad announced today (7th November) N Alexander Douglas Gould G Alexander S Caldwell Dailly McNamara Pressley Ross* Webster Wilkie Cameron Devlin Ferguson Fletcher Naysmith Pearson Rae Crawford Dickov Gray Hutchison McCann McFadden Miller * = suspended for 1st match bold = 'new' callup from last squad italic = injury doubt
Possible team (assuming fitness of all players) Douglas McNamara Pressley Dailly Naysmith Fletcher Ferguson Cameron McCann Crawford McFadden There are a few difficult decisions. 1. Goalkeeper, ie Douglas' lack of games for Celtic. He did OK in the Lithuania match having not played for a while then, and he has been the established #1, so I would expect him to keep the position. The defence picks itself. 2. Midfield. Fletcher on the right side is a no-brainer to me, despite the fact he has yet to start a game for Scotland. If Cameron is unfit, then Rae is another possibility, or McNamara may be pushed into midfield in the second match (when Ross will be available to play at right back). Berti has possibly left himself a little short in this area, since Pearson is more of a left side player. The other possibility is to play Fletcher in the centre and Devlin wide. On the left, it is a straight choice between McCann and McFadden. I think he will go with McCann because he has better defensive qualities. 3. Forwards. A never-ending quandary for Scotland coaches, and not because we are spoilt for choice (unlike our opponents). I have gone with McFadden and Crawford because I believe we need McFadden's trickery up front. He has to play, although it may be too risky to play him in midfield (where has played recently). I believe his best position is as a continental style #10, providing chances and weighing in with 10-15 goals a season as a second striker. The other choice then is between Crawford and Miller. I don't believe that Miller has regained his form since his operation in the summer, so I have gone with Crawford. Another realistic alternative is Dickov, who has done surprisingly well for Leicester this season. Hutchison is an option if we want to play a "big" striker, but I don't think this will be the correct option for this opposition.
My team too but I bet Berti plays Devlin instead of Fletcher. Its quite unfortunate with Cameron and Rae being doubtful as they're our 3rd and 4th choice central midfielders so will Don Hutchison play in back there if the worst comes to the worst? (and it usually does with Scotland)
I wouldn't worry too much Holland has its selection headaches too, especially at the back with Stam, Oiijer and Ricksen doubtful. And Holland sucks at the back to begin with. And van Bommel is out in midfield and RVN is having a hissy fit with Advocaat. On the plus side, Arjen Robben (PSV) is going full throttle and should prove a handful for Scottish defenders, especially if he is brought on late when they are tiring.
I wouldn't think having Ricksen injured would be a headache. I mean apart from the fact he isn't very good (i bet he still has nightmares about Bobby Petta!) he's a total thug! Probobly the most hated player among fans in the SP(hel)L. You're better off without him. I suspect another glorious defeat coming up for Scotland.....after all, it is what we do best!!!
After today's action: Douglas played for Celtic today - apparently made one really good save. Jim Duffy says that Gavin Rae will be fit for Saturday. But Craig Levein says that Steven Pressley has a hamstring problem and is a doubt for the game against Aberdeen - don't know about Scotland.
Scottish Morton I agree Ricksen is not good but Holland have mostly crap at rb and not much depth at the back in the best of times. Reiziger is mediocre and Melchiot really sucks (much worse than Ricksen). I'd rate Reiziger ahead of Ricksen but not by much plus Reiziger may have to play cb. Now, I doubt Advocaat would call Ricksen up normally but with the backline banged up, who knows. I suspect that Kevin Hofland (PSV) might be called up at cb but he's only just fit after 18 months off so it would be a risk. Normally, I'd say Good Luck Scotland but you'll forgive me this time if I don't, won't you? ;-) HUP ORANJE HUP!!
The (ESPN) announcers during the Rangers - MU game made quite a to-do out or rumors that Advokaat (or however the hell you spell his name) would be leaving Van Niestelroy out of the side. For whatever that's worth.
It's not a rumour RVN will not be in the starting side though I'd be surprised if he's not called up. However, reports have been a bit ambiguous on the latter. In any case, he shouldn't start, he's been crap for Holland and he's a whining twat to boot. MaKaay or PVH should start over him.
Netherlands Squad: Edwin VAN DER SAR (Fulham) Ronald WATERREUS (PSV Eindhoven) Frank DE BOER (Galatasaray) Giovanni VAN BRONCKHORST (Barcelona) Andre OOIJER (PSV Eindhoven) Michael REIZIGER (Barcelona) Jaap STAM (Lazio) Boudewijn ZENDEN (Middlesbrough) Paul BOSVELT (Manchester City) Phillip COCU (Barcelona) Edgar DAVIDS (Juventus) Clarence SEEDORF (AC Milan) Wesley SNEIJDER (Ajax) Rafael VAN DER VAART (Ajax) Pierre VAN HOOIJDONK (Fenerbahce) Patrick KLUIVERT (Barcelona) Roy MAKAAY (Bayern Munich) Andy VAN DER MEYDE (Internazionale) Ruud VAN NISTELROOY (Manchester Utd) Marc OVERMARS (Barcelona). I think I know every single player except the reserve keeper, Ooijer and Sneijder! Scotland received a blow today when Wolves said that Colin Cameron wouldn't be fit in time. Scotland doctors will look at him tomorrow.
Waterreus isn't the reserve keeper, he might start on Saturday. Ooijer is a right-side defender and Snijder is a young midfielder. I think Wiggy will play: Waterreus Reiziger Stam De Boer (F) v Bronckhurst vd Meyde Davids Cocu vd Vaart Makaay Kluivert There was never any danger that v Nistelrooy would not be in the squad. The issue is whether he is in the starting XI. I think our best chance is to attack them in the wide areas. I think they are weak(er) here. It sounded like our players in the Monday Premiership match (McFadden, Ferguson, Naysmith) came through OK, so I would expect us to play the lineup outlined above with Rae replacing Cameron. If Rae is also unfit, Berti has a problem.
Now Colin Cameron is fit! Scotland manager Berti Vogts is confident Colin Cameron will be available for selection in the Euro 2004 showdown with Holland on Saturday. The Wolves midfielder has been forced out of club action because of a pelvic problem but, although the national team medics have yet to assess the injury, Vogts was reassured by a phone call to Molineux boss Dave Jones... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/scotland/3256987.stm
It has also been reported that the Dutch have already booked a facility in the Algarve for the finals next summer. Good. This shows that they are over-confident. I wonder how much the cancellation fee will be?
My hunch is that most countries in the playoffs will have booked, one less thing to have to plan for and it helps to be early. But I may be wrong.
Dutch Starters (My picks) WATERREUS REIZIGER STAM DE BOER VAN BRONCKHORST VAN DER MEYDE DAVIDS OVERMARS VAN DER VAART KLUIVERT MAKAAY Would prefer to have Robben to Overmars but Advocaat in his infinite stupidity did not pick him.
Returning to Scottish Issues!!! Okay, Colin Cameron is out with a hamstring injury. Everyone else should be fit, therefore I would have: Douglas McNamara-Dailly-Pressley-Naysmith Fletcher-Rae-Ferguson-McCann McFadden-Miller/Crawford/Hutchison (None have been in great form) Dick Advocaat said that he would resign if Holland didn't qualify - so that'll be Wednesday then
Advocaat Resigning? Well at least there'd be a silver lining to the Dutch not qualifying. Why that idiot didn't call up Arjen Robben is beyond me.
Starting line ups and link to radio http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/radioscotland/index.shtml?link and click on listen now sportsound to listen live. Scotland: Douglas, McNamara, Pressley, Wilkie, Naysmith, Fletcher, Ferguson, Dailly, McCann, Dickov, McFadden. Subs: Gould, G. Alexander, Caldwell, Pearson, Crawford, Hutchison, Miller. Holland: Van der Sar, Ooijer, Stam, de Boer, Van Bronckhorst, Van der Meyde, Cocu, Davids, Overmars, Van Nistlerooy, Kluivert. Subs: Waterreus, Reizeger, Zenden, Seedorf, Van der Vaart, Van Hooijdonk, Makaay. nil-nil so far
GOAL! 1-NIL SCOTLAND!!! James McFadden cuts in from the right and hits a left-foot shot that is slightly deflected past Edwin van der Sar. He also got the first yellow.