Berti Vogts has named a 19 man squad for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Norway and Moldova. There is a recall for Ian Murray of Hibernian. Scotland meet Norway at a sold out Hampden Park on Saturday afternoon, then travel to Moldova for next Wednesday's tie. Scotland Squad Goalkeepers Craig Gordon (Heart of Midlothian) David Marshall (Celtic) Defenders Russell Anderson (Aberdeen) Gary Caldwell (Hibernian) Gary Naysmith (Everton) Steven Pressley (Heart of Midlothian) Andy Webster (Heart of Midlothian) Midfielders Colin Cameron (Wolves) Barry Ferguson (Blackburn) Darren Fletcher (Manchester United) Gary Holt (Norwich) Ian Murray (Hibernian) Stephen Pearson (Celtic) Nigel Quashie (Portsmouth) Forwards Stephen Crawford (Plymouth) Paul Dickov (Blackburn) James McFadden (Everton) Kenny Miller (Wolves) Steven Thompson (Rangers). .............. Firstly, where is Neil Sullivan? Paul Hartley? ... Robbie Winters? And what about Ian Murray getting a call-up. He's played roughly 4 games in 18 months! Anyway, hopefully we line-up something like this: 1. Marshall 2. G. Caldwell 3. Naysmith 4. Webster 5. Pressley/Anderson 6. Ferguson 7. Fletcher 8. Quashie 11. McFadden 9. Dickov 10. Thompson
I would go with....... 1. C.Gordon 2. G.Caldwell 3. G.Naysmith 4. R.Anderson 5. S.Pressley 6. B.Ferguson 7. D.Fletcher 8. N.Quashie 11. S.Pearson 9. S.Thomson 10. J.McFadden I'm feeling fairly confident about the Norway game. They have a couple of well-known big players like Riise and Carew but this is a game we can definately win. COME ON SCOTLAND!!!
Well I had hoped to go see the game, but will settle for watching it on the telly. Saturday is the deay the Scotland top comes back out. Come on you Scots!
There really is no good, Earthly reason why you guys shouldn't pick up at least four points this weekend. Quite frankly, if Scotland and Herr Vogts can't at least draw Norway and thump Moldova they the coach should be run out of town on a rail.
Norway Squad Espen Johnsen, Rosenborg Thomas Myhre, Sunderland Martin Andresen, Stabæk André Bergdølmo, Borussia Dortmund John Carew, Besiktas Ardian Gashi, Vålerenga Erik Hagen, Vålerenga Magne Hoset, FC København Jon Inge Høiland, Malmø FF Steffen Iversen, Vålerenga Frode Johnsen, Rosenborg Tommy Svindal Larsen, Nürnberg Claus Lundekvam, Southampton Morten Gamst Pedersen, Blackburn John Arne Riise, Liverpool Vidar Riseth, Rosenborg Petter Rudi, Molde Sigurd Rushfeldt, Austria Wien Jan Gunnar Solli, Rosenborg Ragnvald Soma, Brann Alexander Ødegaard, Sogndal Jan Derek Sørensen, FC Lyn Oslo See Ya!
I can't understand how Hareide chose Malmø's Jon Inge Høiland instead of Monaco's Hassan El Fakiri. There is a clear quality difference. If I were coach and could choose the players and formation: ..................Myhre El Fakiri...Soma..Bergdølmo...Riise Storflor....Larsen...Hoseth...Kvisvik ..............Carew..Iversen Hareide will, sadly, probably be choosing these players and this formation: ......................Myhre Høiland....Riseth...Lundekvam.....Riise ..............Larsen.....Hoseth Sørensen.......Rushfeldt......Gamst Pedersen .....................Carew I only hope Hareide learned from his mistakes in the Italy and ESPECIALLY in the BELARUS game. He made many HORRIBLE mistakes with the team. Solskjær and Bakke must make a speedy recovery But anyway; I predict a tough, hard knockled game, but victory to Norway after two goals by Carew and Riise(fk).
Aye, we'll see. I think this is going to be tight, I don't see Norway being much better than Slovenia and that game could really have gone either way. I doubt there'll be 2 goals in it. 1-0 Scotland
Yup, my first Hampden game! Apparently Norway will have 6,000 fans at the game... and no points afterwards!
I'll be there as always. A full hampden is always fantastic Really looking forward to this one! I'm expecting a draw, should certainly be close.
This going to be reallly hard for me to say....... ......hang on........ I can do it........ .......[#strained noises#] ......[#noises continue for several minutes.....#] .....errrrrrrahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh........ good luck Scotland. Phew managed to get that out. Nah seriously, My friend is Norwegian and I told him the Scots will turn the Vikings over. All the best, we need another British team in the Finals, its just too boring... 2-1 Scotland for me. You have a good group, but you always seem to make it look harder than it is - still all the best. You should be beating Moldova and Norway.
Quote from Vogts "I'm already without Lee Wilkie, Jackie McNamara, Malky Mackay, Christian Dailly and John Kennedy - that's five defenders and there is also a worry about Steven Pressley." What does he do? He drops another defender! Caldwell is the only right back in the squad (although I don't think he is a natural right back in the first place). So I asume he will be playing, but what if he gets injured? Play Holt (a midfielder) at right back again. That was a disaster last time round. What a joke. This is yet another example of Vogts not having a clue. Dropping McNamee is a big mistake IMO.
Berti has to learn to play players in their favoured position. Why does he rate Caldwell so highly? Especially in positions he doesn't usually play! You cannot play players out of position at this level FFS!! It's just so obvious!
Nigel Quashie has withdrawn...we'll have to do without the englishman . He is good though, we will miss him.
---------------------Gordon Caldwell-----Anderson-------Webster------Naysmith -----------------------Holt ------------Fletcher----------Ferguson McFadden------------------------------Pearson ---------------------Dickov I think this is probably the best we can do, there's no natural width. Burke should've been picked to give us an option on the right.
Is Ok lads, Steve Caldwell and Graeme Murty (yay another englishman) have been called in to save the day! We'll surely stuff the Norwegians now...
Scotland haven't lost a World Cup qualifier at home since 1985 when Wales won 1-0... surely the Norwegians can't break that record?
Boys, Have faith in my selections... Also, do not worry about the result. Im planning something schpecial for Saturday. The Weegies will be out-foxed by my cunning. Wait and see boys....wait and see... Yours, Berti.
Norways team against Scotland ---------Myhre--------- Høiland---Riseth----Lundekvam---Riise Sørensen---Solli---Svindal Larsen---Hoseth -----Iversen------Carew---- I don't agree to all the choices made by Hareide, like Hoseth on the left wing? Morten Gamst Pedersen is much better for that job - oh well! My prediction: Scotland 0 - 2 Norway
Kvisvik also, for that matter. And El Fakiri or Bergdølmo on the RB. And Soma instead of Riseth. This would be my team if I could choose: .....................Myhre El Fakiri....Lundekvam...Soma....Riise Sørensen....Larsen....Gashi...Storflor ...............Carew....Iversen Anywho, I also predict 2-0 for Norway.