An eternal optimist supporting the Scotland football team can be a bit like an unstoppable force coming up against an immovable object. Once again, it looks grim for the long-suffering Tartan Army fan as another major tournament looks set to pass us by without participation.
The big one is of course the World Cup in 2014, in Brazil no less, but qualification to Euro2012 would be nice. Sadly, one injury time dive by a Czech substitute has robbed us of that chance.
Or has it?
Until qualification is mathematically impossible (and it’s a judgment call whether one should entertain the possibility of a points deduction for crowd trouble), I maintain hope should always remain high, if not expectation.
I’ve been here before of course – confident that a win against Holland would see Scotland into World Cup 2010 but despite an excellent performance, we lost out once more.
So, undeterred, and despite Scotland having as many points as a team that’s lost and drawn with Liechtenstein (who themsleves are only 1 point behind us), I thought I would spell out what would have to happen in order for Scotland to finish second in our Group.
Current Table:
Spain – 15pts (GD +10)
Czech R – 10pts (GD +3)
Scotland – 5pts (GD -1)
Lithuania – 5pts (GD -5)
Liechtenstein – 4pts (GD -7)
Requirement: Scotland needs to finish 2nd and ahead of the Czech Republic on points in order to make the play-offs (as head-to-head games are taken into account when teams finish on the same points – thanks to Niall S in the comments for that one!).
The 2nd place team across the groups with the highest points will qualify automatically. This won’t be Scotland, but one the remaining eight teams could be, and here’s how:
6th September
Scotland vs Lithuania
A big win required for Scotland here with lots of goals. If it’s unlikely that we’ll match the Czechs on points then it’s nigh on impossible that we’ll beat them on points so a superior goal difference is required. This is our only remaining home game and it’s against a despondent team that just drew 1-1 with the minnows of the group. We need to thump them 3-0 at least.
Spain vs Liechtenstein
It’s going to be nothing other than a horsing here and, although we want Spain to slip up in order to not have qualified when they face the Czechs in the next game, it’s not going to happen. 5-0 is my expectation with a large margin of error. The silver lining is that a Spanish win means that it will be the reserves/U19s against Scotland in the last game. Note of course that “the reserves†includes the likes of Fabregas.
7th October
Czech Republic vs Spain
It could be all over for Scotland here and, realistically, Spain will have qualified as group winners by now so there is a risk that the Czechs will have an easier game than Scotland had at Hampden. The tartan army can only hope that Spain are too silky, too good and run out as winners 0-1 or so.
8th October
Liechtenstein vs Scotland
If the above results fall into place, then a win by any margin here would suffice for Scotland to have 2nd place in their reach. 0-2 is surely (surely!) a conservative estimate.
11th October
Lithuania vs Czech Republic
This could be Scotland’s last chance. Any team requiring to beat Lithuania in order to qualify for a major tournament should be able to do it, but Scotland may need a draw here when this game comes around or, if results haven’t gone as planned earlier, even a win for the home team. Equally, Scotland’s fate may be in our own hands in the game below. It’s not entirely out of the question so let’s cross our fingers and hope it’ll be a home win or a draw but let’s say, safety first, that the Czechs win 0-1.
Spain vs Scotland
Feeling lucky? On paper there’s only one winner here and it’s a bit rich of me to suggest that Scotland will get an easier ride in Madrid while simultaneously suggesting that the Czechs won’t beat the same weaker Spain side in Prague. My back’s against the wall though. There’s a good chance that Scotland can’t qualify unless they beat Spain, that’s certainly the scenario I’ve painted in the above. However, and this is where our hopes ultimately rest, if Scotland do manage to still have a chance at kick-off, they have a history of over-performing in such situations (witness luckless performances against Netherlands and Italy in recent years). A stubborn draw could be enough if earlier results go our way and a plucky win isn’t out of the question. Let’s summon the spirit of the Paris 40-yarder, of Gary Caldwell’s Hampden tap-in and James MacFadden’s ricocheted Euro2004 winner against Holland and say 0-1 is the score.
Final table under above circumstances:
Spain – 21pts (GD +15)
Scotland – 14pts (GD +5)
Czech R – 13pts (GD +3)
Lithuania – 5pts (GD -9)
Liechtenstein – 4pts (GD -14)
Contrived? Of course. The margin for error is slim but we don’t need to give up just yet. Even a draw against Spain would be enough if the Czechs fail to beat Lithuania away.
I will not be putting any money on Scotland qualifying though, as much as I still hope that they can get through. A draw against Spain and a win against Lithuania isn’t too much of an ask for a team that was so impressive when visiting Hampden on Saturday and recently made the Quarter Finals of the World Cup.
Indeed, if you ask me where Scotland lost out on this group? It would have to be the baffling 4-6-0 against the Czech Republic last year – a sleekit, cowrin’, timrous, panic-in-the-breastie lineup if ever there was one.
Let’s hope we’re a bit more ambitious for World Cup qualifying, and in Ukraine 2012 when/if we qualify….
#1 by Niall on September 6, 2011 - 4:09 pm
Even that wouldn’t get us 2nd Jeff, it comes down to head to head record if two teams end up on the same points, sorry to dissapoint!
#2 by Jeff on September 6, 2011 - 4:12 pm
Thanks, I didn’t realise that Niall. It sucks, but it’s a fair rule (and further undermines Levein’s tactics in Prague)
But, given the wiggle room I gave myself, I’m going to do a cheeky edit. That optimism is unstoppable after all (until we play Spain in Madrid at least).
#3 by Rev. S. Campbell on September 6, 2011 - 4:31 pm
“A draw against Spain and a win against Lithuania isn’t too much of an ask for a team that was so impressive when visiting Hampden on Saturday”
Did another team visit Hampden on Saturday after the dismally poor Czechs had gone home?
#4 by Jeff on September 6, 2011 - 4:35 pm
Injury time dives to one side, Scotland were lucky to get a draw. The Czechs are a step up in class from Scotland; only one step mind, but still noticeable.
#5 by Rev. S. Campbell on September 6, 2011 - 4:46 pm
Rubbish. Can you recall McGregor having to make a save? The Czechs cut our defence up a few times, but to be honest the Teletubbies could probably manage that, and they still couldn’t get the ball on target.
We made about as many decent chances as they did, but somewhat more importantly we’d put two of them in the net compared to their one, before we were cheated with 60 seconds to play.
The Czechs didn’t have any goalbound shots deflected wide off the arse of a passing dog, neither of ours were offside but missed by the linesman, neither of them bounced in off a divot on the pitch. There was no “luck” involved – we put our chances away and they didn’t, unless you count seizing the opportunity to dive. Football is scored on goals, not the number of nice passes you can put together or how often you nutmeg a full-back.
#6 by Jeff on September 6, 2011 - 4:47 pm
Ok, this is where you skewer me……
I’ve not actually seen the game.
(typical blogger, reads the headline and thinks he’s an expert!)
#7 by Malc on September 6, 2011 - 6:06 pm
McGregor didn’t have a save to make the whole match. And they still scored twice. We were murder to watch. Caldwell is shocking at centre back. Morrison was hellish and Naismith had his poorest match in a Scotland shirt.
So yeah – neither Scotland nor the Czechs were impressive at Hampden.
#8 by Rev. S. Campbell on September 6, 2011 - 6:30 pm
I agree entirely with all of that. But goals are what count and we were still 2-1 up until the idiot ref screwed up twice in 60 seconds, so Jeff saying we were lucky to get a draw was very harsh.
#9 by Rev. S. Campbell on September 6, 2011 - 4:42 pm
I agree with your last bit, though. There’s not all that much wrong with Levein’s results in themselves. An away draw in Lithuania, given Scotland’s historical record against smaller East European nations, was perfectly respectable. We beat Liechtenstein unconvincingly, but keeping going to the bitter end and grinding out wins when you haven’t played well is one of the key attributes of any successful football team.
There’s no shame in losing to the No.1 ranked team on the planet and the World Cup holders by the odd goal in five, especially after a spirited fightback from 2-0 down. (To Levein’s credit his team does seem to have spirit in the face of adversity, at least.) And on Saturday we were simply cheated.
The disgrace on Levein’s record isn’t the five points from five games – as you point out, it’s the 4-6-0 in Prague. As we’ve subsequently seen, this is a weak Czech side just begging to be attacked, and Levein’s craven attempt to come away with a measly point is the only time in my 40+ years on Earth I’ve been ashamed to be a Scotland fan. (We might have only drawn in Lithuania, but at least we were *trying* to win, and really should have given the extent to which we outplayed them for most of the game.)
George Burley was treated very badly by the SFA and the Scotland support. The team he was building was an attacking, exciting goalscoring one, and while we ultimately lost it at the death, I can’t remember a more stirring footballing performance by a Scotland side than our final WC2010 qualifier against the Dutch at Hampden. Given a bit more time he could have created something wonderful out of what’s a relatively decent crop of players compared to the last decade or so.
Levein, though, is determined to try to bore his way to success through a series of 0-0 draws and the occasional victory against minnows. Which can be argued as a valid tactic, *if it works*. Craig Brown’s side was pretty grim to watch, but it got us to the World Cup by conceding something mad like five goals in 23 matches.
The most shocking thing about tonight’s game is that with only one striker available, with only 15 minutes of international experience, the manager didn’t feel the need to call up any forward cover. What if Goodwillie goes over on his ankle in the 5th minute? Who do we put up front for a game in which we MUST score goals?
It beggars belief that we would only play with one striker at home against Lithuania in a must-win game in the first place, but to also do so without a single natural forward on the bench is insane. Levein’s tactics and formations are unsuited to the players he has available, which is why our performances have been less inspiring than the results, and that’s the real problem with his leadership of the national side.
You could just about count our entire combined number of shots on target in the group so far on your fingers, and with a defence as fragile as ours and Spoonhands McGregor in goal the only hope is to score a few up the other end. George Burley knew that and was trying to shape the team accordingly, with a few hiccups but palpable progress. Poor wee Kenny Miller on his tod is never going to achieve it.
#10 by Jeff on September 6, 2011 - 4:46 pm
Agree with every single word of that.
The only thing I’d add is that the SFA has to help out the Scotland manager, whether Levein or Burley, by making sure that our best talent isn’t pinched by other countries due to daft rules surrounding schoolboy football (notably RoI – McGeady, McCarthy).
#11 by Gavin Hamilton on September 6, 2011 - 4:48 pm
I see it, I see it! Victory against Spain like we did in Paris or v Holland at Hampden! Believe!
Perhaps better still the resurrection of King Kenny, Mo Johnston, Charlie Nicholas, Peter Lorimer and Dennis Law – or someone like that!!
#12 by Rev. S. Campbell on September 6, 2011 - 5:22 pm
And lastly, I may be made to look very foolish in about four hours’ time, but I can’t shake the feeling that your prognosis is actually a wee bit pessimistic overall. The Czechs have already lost at home to Lithuania, so I don’t think it’s at all implausible that they’d also get beaten in the return. And we have to surely count on them losing to Spain, even if the Spanish are already through.
In that scenario, six points from Lithuania and Liechtenstein put us in the playoffs even if Spain beat us 28-0. And if we can’t get six points from Lithuania and Hampden and Liechtenstein away, we’ve got no bloody business at the finals.
#13 by Malc on September 6, 2011 - 6:11 pm
Six points from Lithuania at home and Liechtenstein away? And you think that’s straightforward for us?!
It took us until the 97th MINUTE to win the match against Liechtenstein at HOME. Why will it be easier for us to get a result over there? And we lost away and drew at home with the Czechs – who in turn lost to Lithuania at home… so if we can’t beat the Czechs, what gives you confidence we’ll beat Lithuania?!
I agree with your last point – we’ve got no bloody business at the finals, and its probably a relief that we won’t be going, since we’d get bloody embarrassed if we were.
Sorry for the rant – just making sure that Jeff’s misplaced optimism isn’t mistaken for a collective optimism. I am, and will be for the foreseeable, in the pessimist’s camp when it comes to Scottish football.
#14 by Rev. S. Campbell on September 6, 2011 - 6:20 pm
It’s Scotland, playing with one striker (at the most). It’s about as “straightforward” as catching a bus to the moon. But as I say, if we can’t do it we don’t belong at the finals anyway.
I’m not at all “confident” we’ll beat Lithuania, but we did them fairly comfortably the last time they came to Hampden, and it’s usually in away games that we slip up against the “smaller” nations. But with half a team missing tonight and no strikers on the bench if it gets to 75 minutes at 0-0, there’s a first time for everything 🙁
#15 by Rev. S. Campbell on September 6, 2011 - 6:22 pm
Incidentally, how unlucky is it that in the qualifying stages for the last three tournaments we’ve had to face ALL FOUR of the World Cup finalists of the period?
#16 by Jeff on September 6, 2011 - 6:36 pm
Very unlucky, but we’ve come close on a few occasions.
And that’s why WC2014 qualification is going to be a veritable cakewalk! (note that I’m already preparing for a rosy optimistic plan B if things go wrong tonight)
#17 by douglas clark on September 6, 2011 - 6:29 pm
Dear Jeff,
I rather enjoyed that. I am also delighted that you won’t be betting the house on it!
#18 by Indy on September 6, 2011 - 6:38 pm
Id like to take this opportunity to pass on the thanks of a grateful nation to all those who follow the Scotland team.
It saves the rest of us from having to do it.
#19 by Jeff on September 6, 2011 - 6:43 pm
No worries. I did this on Sunday morning and it took me a surprisingly long time. (thanks to Malc for pointing out the errors in the drafts)
The Observer article writing off Scotland’s chances was just too depressing to take otherwise….
#20 by Barbarian on September 6, 2011 - 7:46 pm
Come on, admit it, we’re doomed!
But we all enjoy ourselves in doing so…….
#21 by Jeff on September 6, 2011 - 8:51 pm
Squeaky bum time yet?
#22 by Craig Gallagher on September 7, 2011 - 4:02 am
I can’t really abide the constant criticisms of Levein. Yes, 4-6-0 was a bit of a disaster, but he learned from that as the team did, and his teams have generally been a lot more positive since then. Ok, he doesn’t play with two strikers, but name me a Scotland manager (other than the completely hapless George Burley) who has in the last ten to fifteen years?
What do people expect from Scotland? We’re technically the third best team in this group, yet everyone is outraged the Czechs are better passers than us and can hold onto the ball even at Hampden. I even heard grumbles of discontent that we gave Spain most of the possession back in October. So-called fans in the media need to wake up: Levein has been handed a relatively gifted generation, compared with his predecessors, and his first priority has been to mould them into a team that doesn’t get thrashed. That was precisely the problem under Burley, as Norway and Wales ably demonstrated.
In the last year, there has been noticeable progress. Levein has a winning record of over 50%, better than every Scotland manager except Alex McLeish recently, and his team do try and pass the ball over short, sharp differences. He has blooded some genuinely talented players and as a rule we draw more than we lose, which is a major progression on just two years ago.
If people want to watch Scotland play teams off the park, I’m sure the local Blockbuster has some DVDs of games from the 1970s. Otherwise, get real and get behind the team, win or lose.
#23 by Rev. S. Campbell on September 7, 2011 - 9:28 am
Why exactly was Burley “completely hapless”? The Wales game was a meaningless friendly, and Burley is far from alone as a Scotland manager with a poor friendly record.
In terms of “playing teams off the park”, that’s exactly what we did against the Dutch at Hampden, but inability to convert pressure and chances into goals has been the Achilles heel of Scotland since LONG before Burley’s time, and an individual defensive lapse right at the end cost us the game.
Burley’s competitive record:
WINS
Iceland (x2)
Macedonia
DRAWS
Norway
DEFEATS
Macedonia
Norway
Netherlands (x2)
Which of those results is the disgrace? The away loss to Macedonia involved a couple of dubious refereeing decisions, in a game played in extraordinary heat. The Norway defeat took place before the Scottish season had started (but with the Norwegian one well under way), and was in significant part due to some awful refereeing that saw us play most of the game with 10 men, and a couple of hideously unlucky fluke deflections.
The home draw with Norway was due to a striker missing an open goal from three yards, which I’m pretty sure isn’t the manager’s fault.. And the Dutch made the World Cup final, so a 3-0 defeat away and a 1-0 defeat at home aren’t particularly shocking.
Burley also had to contend with the disgraceful antics of Boozegate, which saw him undermined first by a Rangers clique in his own squad and then by the SFA. (Levein went down in my estimation the minute he went crawling back to Ferguson and McGregor, who should never have played for Scotland again.)
Had we selected more than one striker against Lithuania last night we’d have been 5-0 up before that agonising last 10 minutes, because until then they were absolutely, spectacularly abysmal. The idea that he’s learned the lesson of 4-6-0 isn’t supported by a shred of evidence – he’s a cautious, defensive manager trying to build a Craig-Brown-style success out of being tight at the back, except with a defence that isn’t a quarter as good as the one at Brown’s disposal.
It’s not romanticism that wants to see Scotland attack more, it’s cold hard pragmatism. We’re always going to leak goals, so we need to score.
#24 by Malc on September 7, 2011 - 10:32 am
I’m inclined to agree with the Rev. Caldwell is a nightmare at centre-back. Trying to make a defensive team who might nick a goal to win 1-0 with Caldwell in the team is like trying to build a house on a swamp – sure, it might hold firm for about 10 minute, but one false move from one of its rocks and the whole thing falls apart. We’re not good enough to do that. Last night was crying out for 2 strikers while Saturday was crying out for the creative influence of Barry Bannan – but did Levein see it? No. He was worried that we’d let both sides back into it – hasn’t he heard the phrase “the best form of defence is attack”?
Incidentally, which of our next qualifying group do we think we might finish above? Croatia, Serbia, Belgium, Wales and Macedonia. Croatia lead their group, Serbia are second to Italy and Belgium are pushing Turkey for second in their group. Macedonia have been poor, but we’ve lost over there before, and though Wales are bottom of their group, with Bale, Bellamy and Ramsey in their side they beat Montenegro (a side who drew at Wembley) relatively easily. I don’t see any reason for confidence for that qualifying group based upon the opposition or Levein’s playing style.
#25 by Jeff on September 7, 2011 - 11:04 am
Belgium drew with Azerbaijan the other day, we whooped Wales last time we played them (and Robbie Earnshaw’s Wembley miss from two yards is heartening enough on its own), Croatia are living on past glories and are 1 point ahead of Greece whose danger man is Celtic flop Georgios Samaras, Norway scraped a 1-0 at home against Iceland before crashing 2-0 to Denmark this past week and Serbia will be tough, sure, but, screw it, it’s better than having Holland, Italy or Spain in there.
We played some good stuff last night so I won’t let your pessimism deny me the expectation that I’ll be on Copacabana beach in a kilt in about 33 months….!
#26 by Malc on September 7, 2011 - 12:03 pm
Belgium we could beat, I’ll give you that.
But beating Wales in a friendly, when they didn’t have their stars playing is different. They looked menacing against Montenegro.
Greece are once removed from being European Champions but the Croats are still a decent side, and decent enough to top them (and our group).
Norway? We don’t have them…
Serbia beat NI 1-0 on Sat, but it was going on seven.
Sure, we played some good stuff last night. But – as my brother pointed out – watching Lithuania was like watching Aberdeen. Sit in, absorb pressure, wait for a chance. They hardly threatened us at all. Easy to look decent when your opposition isn’t that good.
And by all means, go sit on Copacabana beach in a kilt. You probably won’t be the only one – I think we’re going for my 30th. But the team won’t be joining you. Guarantee.
#27 by Doug Daniel on September 7, 2011 - 11:53 am
You’re probably right about the WC2014 qualifiers. The fact is that although we have 5 or 6 qualifying pots for the qualifying draws, there are not 5 or 6 levels of ability in the UEFA region. Obviously you have teams like Spain, Germany, Holland and Italy who are way out in front of everyone else. You then have the next level, who are always expected to top their groups, but are either prone to messing up, or just not quite in the elite yet – that would be teams like Croatia, England, Portugal etc. After that though, it’s all much of a muchness – just about anybody can beat anybody else. The new teams from the 90s – former USSR and Yugoslav teams – have bulked this out massively, so that you might be in pot 3 in the draw, but the reality is you’re no better than the team from pot 5.
Then you have the proper minnows, but even some of these guys are improving – tiny Liechtenstein winning a game? How did that happen? Armenia pulled off a shock result recently too. San Marino seem to be just about the last remaining “6 points in the bag” opposition.
It all adds up to mean that you don’t know who is going to finish where in a group until the final games, so there’s almost no point in trying to work it out beforehand. It’s perhaps why international football is (in my eyes, anyway) far more interesting than the increasingly predictable club football – certainly the SPL and EPL anyway.
#28 by Malc on September 7, 2011 - 11:58 am
Agree entirely with this. And – for the record – Liechtenstein have a better record against Lithuania in this pool (0-0, 2-0) than we do (0-0, 1-0). Armenia cuffed Slovakia last night to put themselves in the frame for a playoff spot in Republic of Ireland’s group…
#29 by Doug Daniel on September 7, 2011 - 1:41 pm
And that’s the same Slovakia team that dumped the Cheating Bastards (aka Italy) out of the last World Cup!
#30 by Rev. S. Campbell on September 7, 2011 - 5:14 pm
“Incidentally, which of our next qualifying group do we think we might finish above?”
I do have a fair degree of optimism about that campaign, everything else said in this thread notwithstanding. (I’ll be quite surprised if Levein is still in charge.) We’re plausibly capable of beating every one of those at Hampden (we have a far better home record than anyone tends to acknowledge), and with everyone likely to take points off everyone else at some stage it’ll be all to play for.
The key difference is that there isn’t one team really obviously in a different league to the rest that’s going to run away with it, so we’ll actually be fighting for the top two spots rather than scrapping for the runners-up position.
#31 by Doug Daniel on September 8, 2011 - 11:54 am
How great would it be if we actually finished top of the group? As you say, we can beat anyone in that group. We’ve beaten France with less quality players than now, and given teams like Italy, Spain and Holland a good go. There’s nothing to stop us getting some good results against Croatia and Serbia. We can beat Wales and Macedonia, and despite Belgium having a good crop of upcoming players, they’re clearly no better than us (at least on paper).
#32 by Doug Daniel on September 7, 2011 - 1:35 pm
Yeah, I think Burley was unlucky. It seemed like the media decided to get on his back almost straight away, and the Kris Boyd situation didn’t help. Burley was absolutely right not to pick him, as his complete and utter failure at Middlesbrough has shown that Boyd is useless against defenders that don’t share his diet of Monster Munch. However, he went and told the papers that his reason for not picking Boyd was because he wasn’t getting enough games, when the reality is he was just a glorified poacher. This led to him being compelled to play MacGregor in goal in Amsterdam, because playing Sunderland benchwarmer Craig Gordon (our best keeper since Dons legend Jim Leighton) would have led to accusations of hypcrisy in the media. We then got thrashed 3-0. I would have been quite happy for that to have been MacGregor’s last game for Scotland, because Craig Gordon is without doubt our top keeper, and David Marshall is probably as good as MacGregor.
Burley’s whole stint seemed to be plagued by Rangers players – be it people announcing they wouldn’t play for Burley (“good riddence” was my reaction to both Lee McCulloch and Boyd doing that); the Boozegate idiots; or just players completely and utterly failing. The second Holland game was an excellent example – a couple of absolute classic Kenny Misser howlers, Naismith was abysmal, and oldballs Weir was completely at fault for their goal. If he had given Berra a chance and not relied on Kenny Misser so much, perhaps things might have gone different for him. But the media hate campaign ensured he was never going to last too long.
I would like to think Levein has perhaps learned from the 4-6-0 incident, although if he would only admit as much then I think people would be able to move on. The problem is that until he does so, people will continue to question his judgement. One thing I would give him credit for is FINALLY realising that Darren Fletcher is a world class DEFENSIVE midfielder, not a world class playmaker. I don’t know why it has taken so long for a Scotland manager to understand this. He still has the eternal problems of a) confusing Kenny Misser’s talent for missing barn doors and doing impressions of a headless chicken as the hallmarks of a good goalscorer and b) somehow failing to notice Gary Caldwell’s litany of errors in EVERY game he plays. I’m also not pleased at the way he has completely shunned James McFadden – he may not be consistent, but in a one-on-one situation with a goalkeeper, I know who I would rather have on the ball, and it’s not Kenny Misser. Surely even a defensive-minded Scotland has a place for one enigmatic player who may or may not pull off something wonderful out from nowhere.
At least he doesn’t play Gary Teale…
#33 by Malc on September 7, 2011 - 1:45 pm
The man’s after my job! I’ve been banging the “Kenny Miller couldn’t hit water if he was standing on a boat/ Fletcher hasn’t played a decent game for Scotland as an attacking midfielder/ Caldwell isn’t the answer to any defensive question” drum for as long as I can remember.
And I agree with you on the Rangers players. If you don’t want to play for your country, you shouldn’t be asked twice – you’re country doesn’t want you to play for you with that attitude. McGregor has shown some remorse (I think) for the boozegate stuff, and he’s a genuinely good keeper – if Gordon was playing regularly, that’d be a decent competition. But other than that – agree almost 100%.
#34 by Doug Daniel on September 7, 2011 - 2:53 pm
To be fair, if the defensive question in mind was “who is the last person you would want in your defence?” or “who is worse at defending: Gary Caldwell or Christiano Ronaldo?” then Gary Caldwell would indeed be your answer. Ho ho ho.
Yeah, I suppose in fairness to MacGregor, he was banned rather than refusing to play under Burley. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt and say that Barry Sideways led him astray.
The annoying thing about Miller, though, is that he has a nasty habit of (very) occasionally scoring a goal, meaning people can point to those goals and say “he may miss some, but look at these important goals he’s scored”. However, his goal against Spain was clearly a fluke. Even I’m capable of scoring goals sometimes, and I have the ability of Caldwell, with the stamina and speed of Boyd.
Plus he has an orange face.
#35 by Rev. S. Campbell on September 7, 2011 - 3:49 pm
Yeah. I pray Craig Gordon stops falling down stairs soon, because he’s the best goalkeeper in Britain, whereas McGregor is a talented player with an attitude problem and a propensity for clangers. He was awful in Amsterdam and didn’t look like he gave a damn about it.
(I don’t know what’s happened to Neil Alexander, I thought he was a very decent goalie. I’m assuming McFadden is also still injured, because otherwise his absence is inexplicable.)
And yes, agree 100% for Fletcher. He’s taken a lot of stick in a Scotland shirt for the exact reasons you state – at Man Utd he’s a peerless ball-winner and harasser of opponents, slowing their attacks while the team regroups, but the fact that he can also play a decent forward pass (and, to be fair, a lack of alternative candidates) led to Scotland trying to turn him into something he’s not.
#36 by Doug Daniel on September 8, 2011 - 11:25 am
Apparently, he’s a free angent as his contract ran out when Birmingham got relegated, and they couldn’t agree renegotiated terms. It’s a shame, because he’s just two caps away from reaching the 50 milestone.
However, I think his absence is largely down to Levein thinking he didn’t put in enough effort against Liechtenstein. Being a free agent just now will hardly help his cause. But while McFadden is often accused of inconsistency, it’s worth remembering that he has scored 15 goals in 48 games – that may not sound a lot, but our Kenny Misser has only managed 14 in 56, and he’s started the majority of those games, playing solely as an out-and-out striker; McFadden, on the other hand, has had to be content with being used as a “super-sub” for at least half those games, as well as often being used as a left-winger rather than a striker. Yet he’s still scored more goals in less games than our supposed first-choice striker.
To me, there has been absolutely no justification for the past four Scotland managers to treat McFadden as poorly as they have. Never mind namby-pamby “ooh, we need a headless chicken to chase the ball and rubbish like that” tactics – the Paris goal alone should have sealed his place as our first-choice striker, because no one else has his striking ability. Certainly not the eternal misser of open goals.
The more I think about it, the more I actually hate Kenny Misser, and blame him almost solely for Scotland’s continued absence from tournaments. I wish he had retired gracefuly after the Holland game.
#37 by Doug Daniel on September 7, 2011 - 1:37 pm
Bit harsh on Lithuania there – and I say that as a Dons supporter.
#38 by Malc on September 7, 2011 - 1:41 pm
I don’t know – until about 15 minutes from the end, they didn’t look like they knew what the game was about. Our first by-kick was in the 41st minute, which tells you about their mindset.
#39 by Rev. S. Campbell on September 7, 2011 - 3:54 pm
Yeah, come on, man. I’m a rednose too, and Lithuania were awful, but let’s keep some perspective.
#40 by Barbarian on September 7, 2011 - 7:19 pm
We’re still doomed I tell you!!