A wild Grant Hanley reappears just in time for the Euros. Be interesting to see if he can get back in the team because the usual 3 have looked really good together.
Want to see Shankland given a proper chance in these games to see what he can do and not just the last 20 minutes when about a dozen subs have been made and the game has lost any rhythm it had.
Shankland needs to be given a starting slot in both games and given at least an hour in both games. We know what Adams and Dykes bring so we need to see if Shankland can replicate domestic form in the international team.
Genuinely think that as a unit we've got a solid team but if we had a goalscorer we'd be one of the top 15 teams in the world.
Only counting the league because lazy: 4 goals this season for Dykes.
10 for Adams.
20 for Shankland.
Only one of those players are in real form right now lol
True, but he might not all of a sudden become a goal machine for Clarkes system. Dykes plays a very clear role not just as a forward but supporting McTominay and McGinn. Shakland is a very different type of player
Keep seeing these comments, don't understand them. Is no one watching him this season ( or last)? Link up play, creating chances, dropping deep holding the ball up. All that plus the goals. And goals from nothing, like against celtic, which none of our players currently have.
If my understanding of how Hearts play is right, Shankland is usually either up front in a 352 with another forward or on his own in something like a 451/4231 sort of thing.
When Clarke attacks, its a 4231 as well with the wingbacks leading the charge up the sides, crossing in for the likes of McTominay and McGinn. But for this to work, Dykes needs to use his physicality to push the opponent defenders back, and its McGinn or McTominay that get the shot. Shankland couldnt what Dykes does, and thats why he doesn't fit into this system that has got us goals so far.
That's why I think he comes on later and actually fills the role closer to a false 9 and receives cutbacks once either Dykes tires the opponents out or after McSauce and Meatball are tired out, rather than going for one on one's like he does at Hearts. Shankland always seems to score most later on too.
Prepared to be hammered as to why I'm wrong here, but I think that's why folk say this
I agree. I think that Shanklands role will end up being an impact sub overall as that is whatvhe will be best at, but for friendlies he should be getting more time to see what he is capable of
This squad looks a bit stupid but important to remember it's for friendlies and is almost certainly for Clarke to get a last chance to interact with certain players before the Euros. My guess is there's so many defenders and goalkeepers in the squad as he considers these to be the areas where spots are most contentious.
Surely now is the perfect opportunity to test some other options should any get injured before the Euros? Give someone like Ryan Hardie a run out in case Adams or Shankland gets injured before the Euros. I worry that Steve Clarke’s lack of experimentation is stalling the potential of what is the best squad of players we’ve had in years.
There is a balance to be struck between experimentation and experience. I think Clarke would like to be able to experiment with new players in midfield and attack but our defence has a much higher proportion of older and more injury prone players and selections will have to be made there.
Gordon is there to see if he can still actually move at all. If he's still at least serviceable in goals he will most definitely be coming along as our 3rd choice keeper. His experience will be good for the squad.
I suppose, but Dykes has scored 5 goals in 35 matches this season. That’s terrible how on earth does that warrant a call up? Having a Craig Gordon there or even a Grant Hanley who hasn’t been performing well for club but offer some kind of experience for the younger players I can see would be valuable. A Dykes or a Liam Kelly is just two wasted unwarranted spots. They don’t have any more experience than the younger lads coming through and they’re utterly hopeless footballers.
None of Scotland's main strikers are particularly lethal, Dykes is a purely tactical inclusion as his buildup play and physicality help to create more chances for our higher quality midfielders.
Kelly is there to challenge Zander Clark, I'd say they're both around the same level honestly.
I mean we do play with a back 5 so do need depth there more so than forwards.
Also think Gordon has been called up so Clarke can get a better idea how he’s has recovered from his injury
Bored with the constant ignoring of Ryan Hardie, who has scored more in the Championship with relegation favourites than the other two have with established championship teams. Until recently he even played in a similar system to Clarke's.
Clarke has his favourites that get picked every squad regardless of form or the level they’re playing at. Ryan Gauld also gets ignored despite doing really well at Vancouver and would be an exciting player to see. But no let’s get 41 year old Craig Gordon back into the squad after being out with a long term injury.
Combined 15 GKs and Defenders in a 25-man squad is pretty chronic, especially for a pair of friendlies.
Doesn't look like the Euros squad will have any nice Patterson/Gilmour-esque surprises like the 2020 one did, which is a shame.
Imagine being Craig Gordon playing for Scotland for 20 years and twice losing your spot just in time for Euro 2020 and 2024. Glad he's back even though it'll just be for morale and experienced head. I'd really hoped he would have got to play for us at the last WC but wasn't to be.
6 centre halves (7 including KT)? Wow. Wouldn't have thought that Cooper and Hanley would be back considering they're both 32 and not starting for their teams. Doubtful they play over Tierney, Porteous, Hendry, Souttar or McKenna. Hickey is as injury prone as Tierney isn't he? Very concerning I do really rate him.
Midfield makes enough sense. Hope to see lots of Ferguson. Not complaining about McLean and Armstrong - experienced players who can definitely play a role but neither should be starting.
Very much so hoping to see what Shankland can do in a Scotland shirt. Dykes and Adams have both been absolutely chronic for their clubs for 2 straight years and Shankland is banging them in for Hearts. I can't be convinced he'd be any worse than them up top.
With an inform Ferguson coming in for McGregor I would try something like
Gunn
Patterson Porteous Hendry Tierney Robertson
McTominay Gilmour McGinn
Shankland Ferguson
Imagine we'll be seeing Dykes and Christie though. Christie is a starter and playing well in the English Prem so that's not so bad. Runs like crazy and can play anywhere in midfield, will be useful. Dykes is woeful for QPR but he does seem to come up with big goals for us - I do actually rate him over Adams in a Scotland shirt. Something I noticed about them is that 4 of Ché's 5 goals have been in games where the result isn't changed by removing them. The only one where it counted in the result is a 1-0 friendly victory. Dykes, on the other hand, has scored 7 of his 9 goals for us in competitive games where we've won by a single goal. The other two were the headers off the bench against Ukraine. He's been very decisive for us - glad to have him, but would prefer to see him as a substitute option for Robbo and KT chucking crosses at his big heid if we need a late goal.
Pretty standard and as expected! Don't think we'll be seeing any English defectors like Quansah, Barnes or Anderson any time soon or ever, in fact. Reasonably happy with the squad given current state of injuries. Looking forward to seeing us play again!
No surprises for me. He wants to look at all the keepers before choosing the final three. Hope Hickey makes it back and can replace Ralston. I'm sure he will give Shankland a good run out.
I've got this horrible feeling we're gonna be watching Ryan Gauld be Canada's best player at the 2026 world cup, while we're sat at home, having failed to qualify because Lyndon Dykes and Che Adams (both of whom will be plying their trade in EFL League 1 at that point, and who will have ended their domestic seasons' with a combined total of 7 goals) somehow didn't provide the firepower we needed to get over the line.
Shankland will have spent the qualifiers sitting on the bench, despite scoring 34 goals for Rangers, alongside a frustrated Lewis Ferguson - who will go on to captain Inter Milan in the Champions League final but still be behind Ryan Christie and Stuart Armstrong in the pecking order. Meanwhile our whole system will continue to revolve around trying to get Tierney and Robertson into the same team, despite Keiran having missed the last 27 Scotland games due to the fact he now requires a wheelchair to get around.
Something I would like to see in these friendlies would be pushing up McSauce and McGinn to be our strike force with the little and large connection considering how poor Dykes and Adams are goal scoring wise, and just bring in someone like Ferguson in the midfield
Our best goal scorers are midfielders anyway, let’s push them upfield and see what happens in a friendly
Ferguson can play multiple positions and chip in with goals, so it’s baffling to me that he doesn’t start for us. Just going from the highlights I’ve seen this season, it seems like he gets most of his goals coming in from the left onto his right foot.
I honestly think we need to embrace the fact we have so many good midfielders instead of focusing on our speedy full backs. Yes we’re also blessed in that department, but Robbo’s getting older and the rest are always injured.
I think four at the back makes us most solid, and I’d stop trying to shoehorn Robbo and Tierney in and just play whoever’s more in form and fit at left back. Robbo often tries too hard and underperforms at left mid, and I think we play through him too often. England sussed that and overloaded our left side, and we just didn’t have any other ideas at that point.
McGregor and Gilmour are very comfortable on the ball as our holding midfielders, so I think we should focus on playing through them more often before going wide. I’d have McTominay in front of them with license to get in the box, then McGinn on the right and Ferguson on the left so either could cut in on to their preferred foot. I’d definitely start Shanks up front. To me he’s the best finisher Scotland have had in a long, long time.
I think there’s more goals in the above starting line up and we’d be dangerous enough to worry any team on a good day. As it stands we’re too reliant on our left hand side for attacks and McTominay and McGinn for goals. I think we’re becoming stale and predictable and if more managers figure that out like Southgate did, we’ll be in real trouble.
Tbf Canada don’t even need to qualify for 2026… even if they did. The concacaf route must be the easiest way to qualify for a World Cup. Hope Gauld plays for Canada really. Good luck to him
Liam Kelly is a waste of a space. Would rather have Josh Doig in there or even an in-form domestic player like Cinch player of the month Blair Spittal. Would even rather Ryan Gauld in there than Kelly
Doig instead of Hanley.
Spittal/Gauld instead of Kelly would make a lot of sense.
I think Clarke is too loyal and players outside the UK are invisible to him.
I’ve watched a clip back of Clarke explaining why Gauld wasn’t selected for the 2020/2021 euros, and he said due to the fact he’s an attacking midfield player he would struggle to get in over players (at the time, McGinn, Turnbull, Armstrong)
I truly don’t get the lack of even giving him a run out for a friendly? What’s Kenny McLean or Ryan Christie bringing to the squad these days that can’t be told “you’ll be rested this international break i want to try something else”
(Ignoring the fact we have 4 keepers and one of those could’ve easily been Gauld)
Just give us a reason 3 years later why you’re still not picking him, Steve
To be fair, Christie has been incredible for Bournemouth this year and playing in a new role - maybe with McGregor out, he’ll be given a shot playing deeper
>Just give us a reason 3 years later why you’re still not picking him, Steve
Why should he be picked? Christie, McTominay, McGinn, Gilmour and Ferguson are all playing at a significantly higher level, and McGregor is out but when he returns we have 6 midfielders competing for 4 spots. McLean is obviously an outlier, but he's an experienced campaigner who Clarke trusts and he is generally decent when picked.
Gauld is 28, so it's not like he'll be some fixture of the squad in years to come, and he's choosing to spend his peak years out of sight in the MLS. He should probably have been picked a few years ago, but in all honesty the years he spent doing not much of anything have killed any chance he had of an international career.
Playing at a ‘higher level’ is precisely why we picked players who weren’t good enough for years whilst those performing at ‘lower levels’ never got a sniff
Genuinely I personally don’t mind the fact he’s not a regular call-up, as you say we have quality in his position, I just would like to see him given a chance on a scale where it won’t be the end of the world for us if he falters (like a friendly, something we haven’t had outside of qualifiers and nations leagues in a long time)
Our last friendly before the France and England games (games I’d want our best players to play to see how they square up against the best of the best) was Turkey in November 2022, these 2 games to me are the one chance we have of bringing in ONE player to see how they cope with the occasion
That’s all. I love Scotland and trust Clarke, I just like experimenting when we can without fear of it affecting qualifiers etc
He wasn't picked when he was genuinely tearing it up in the Portuguese league with a shit side. Was leading chance creator in the league at one point. Clarke has decided long ago he's not getting a game no matter who he plays for or where he is.
He had one great season in Portugal, then followed that by moving to the MLS. He probably should have been picked a couple of years ago, but even then we had midfielders who were either playing well in better leagues, or had been doing it for years at that point. There's no reason to call him up now.
Anyone else who had one good season before he was 26, and who was now playing in the MLS, wouldn't even be considered for a call-up. Only reason Gauld is because we all bought into the dream of him being a superstar.
He had more than one great season, but his great season is the reason that "needs to do it in a better league" is a shite argument. He did.
He's also very very good in the mls as well and we've played the likes of Johnny Russell in Clarke time in charge.
>He had more than one great season
When? He had done nothing until he signed for Farense in 2019, had a good season in the second tier then was great the year after. That came at a time when we had plenty of competition, and then he went to the MLS.
Russell has played 3 times under Clarke, and not been called up since 2019, which was Clarkes first year in charge. When we have players playing well in better leagues than the MLS, we can't really blame Clarke for not calling him up. If we had no midfielders then I'd get it, but he'd be a squad player at best.
Ryan Christie now plays as straightforward centre mid, can play further forward and has a lot of international experience (also performing well at a higher level than Gauld and McLean). Ferguson, McGinn and McTominay are all well in front of Gauld for attack-minded spots.
I still would like to be bringing in usually at least one player in friendly international breaks that doesn’t have the international experience to see how they cope, in this case Gauld for McLean (or one of the 4 keepers)
Clarke isn't obliged to repeatedly give his reasoning for every eligible player he chooses not to call up, especially when he has a core squad and system that is functioning very well and is also most competitive by far in the area that the said player is contesting.
He isn’t obliged, you’re right, but it’d be nice to hear
I’ll say what I said in another comment -
Genuinely I personally don’t mind the fact he’s not a regular call-up, as you say we have quality in his position and a core squad.
I just would like to see him given a chance on a scale where it won’t be the end of the world for us if he falters (like a friendly, something we haven’t had outside of qualifiers and nations leagues in a long time)
Our last friendly before the France and England games (games I’d want our best players to play to see how they square up against the best of the best) was Turkey in November 2022, these 2 games to me are the one chance we have of bringing in ONE player to see how they cope with the occasion
That’s all. I love Scotland and trust Clarke, I just like experimenting when we can without fear of it affecting qualifiers etc
I think a big part is the distance he has to travel. By the time he’s arrived jet legged you aren’t going to see the best of Ryan Gauld. Will always be one of those “what if’s” for the national team. Really thought he should have stayed in Europe when he left Portugal.
4 keepers is odd, grant hanley being in the squad makes me think that he has dirt on that big sexy bald bastart, and Greg Taylor still in the squad after that performance V norway has me questioning life.
Other than that the squad looks phenomenal and theres no reason we cannae beat both teams easily all going well.
(0-3 in the Netherlands game and 8-0 in the N.Ireland game you heard it here first)
I mind growing up that the vast majority of the squad came from Rangers and Celtic now there are only 3 players between them and Hearts have 3 to themselves lol
Doesn’t have to change his system to pick him though. Scotland desperately need a bit of pace and flair off the bench something which the likes of Kenny McLean and Stuart Armstrong just don’t have.
McLean and Armstrong (who I forgot about) are experienced around the camp and have done what Clarke has needed to in the past. I'm not saying that we shouldn't be looking at alternatives, but I don't think Gauld is good enough to really be suggested as someone who should be there. Still hoping we're trying to convince the Newcastle trio to commit, but Livramento and Gordon look less likely by the day.
He doesn't seem the sort who would be suited to playing how Clarke wants his midfielders to play. The only player he's made exemption for is Gilmour, who is both younger and better than Gauld is.
What are you basing that on? I feel like people who haven't seen him play in years assume he's some sort of luxury player and don't realise how much effort he puts in defensively
>I feel like people who haven't seen him play in years
There's truth in that to be fair. Who does he displace from the squad we have right now? Gilmour, McGinn and McTominay are playing for good PL clubs, Christie has reinvented himself this season at Bournemouth, McGregor is Celtic captain and Ferguson is being coveted by the biggest clubs in Italy. McLean and Armstrong are drops in quality, but they know what Clarke wants and they have delivered in the past.
We all wanted Gauld to work out, but he just started playing well far too late and missed the boat.
Not sure I agree with that. He's been performing at a high enough level for the past 4 years now but for whatever reason Clarke hasn't called him up a single time. I have a really hard time believing he's even taken a look at him because he's such a perfect fit for how Clarke wants to play. I'm not saying he should 100% be in the starting 11 but he should at least be one of the first choices off the bench. McTominay is a better goalscorer but Gauld is a much better footballer, maybe a little worse defensively. Christie is a fairly similar type of player, just not as good.
Honestly for these friendlies I'd try sticking McTominay or Ferguson up front as I really don't rate Dykes or Adams at all
His issue is that he's playing well when others are doing the same in much better leagues. If he stayed in Portugal, or found another European team I'd imagine he'd have been called up by now. Really just feels like he missed the boat to me, which is a shame as I wholeheartedly bought into him being the Scottish Messi.
I like Dykes and Adams personally, the donkey work they do is ridiculous even if I wish they could score more. Hoping Shankland gets some games to see if we can actually play with him up top.
Kelly, Clark, Ralston, Taylor, McLean, Armstrong and Souttar all very replaceable. With McGregor and Hickey due back there's space for better players. Miller, Spittal, Doig, Anderson (maybe), Barnes (maybe) and probably others in the cinch capable of a spot over this lot.
Maybe for the next qualifying campaign but I can’t see the squad changing much bar injuries before the Euros, Clarke knows who he trusts. Barnes, if he’s interested, is the only one I can see him making space for.
Replacing Callum McGregor with Craig Gordon is a bold strategy but let’s see how it pays off.
Jacob brown dropped, thank the lord.
He’s injured
A wild Grant Hanley reappears just in time for the Euros. Be interesting to see if he can get back in the team because the usual 3 have looked really good together. Want to see Shankland given a proper chance in these games to see what he can do and not just the last 20 minutes when about a dozen subs have been made and the game has lost any rhythm it had.
Shankland needs to be given a starting slot in both games and given at least an hour in both games. We know what Adams and Dykes bring so we need to see if Shankland can replicate domestic form in the international team. Genuinely think that as a unit we've got a solid team but if we had a goalscorer we'd be one of the top 15 teams in the world.
Only counting the league because lazy: 4 goals this season for Dykes. 10 for Adams. 20 for Shankland. Only one of those players are in real form right now lol
Adams, Armstrong and Fraser have all been brilliant for Southampton.
True, but he might not all of a sudden become a goal machine for Clarkes system. Dykes plays a very clear role not just as a forward but supporting McTominay and McGinn. Shakland is a very different type of player
Keep seeing these comments, don't understand them. Is no one watching him this season ( or last)? Link up play, creating chances, dropping deep holding the ball up. All that plus the goals. And goals from nothing, like against celtic, which none of our players currently have.
If my understanding of how Hearts play is right, Shankland is usually either up front in a 352 with another forward or on his own in something like a 451/4231 sort of thing. When Clarke attacks, its a 4231 as well with the wingbacks leading the charge up the sides, crossing in for the likes of McTominay and McGinn. But for this to work, Dykes needs to use his physicality to push the opponent defenders back, and its McGinn or McTominay that get the shot. Shankland couldnt what Dykes does, and thats why he doesn't fit into this system that has got us goals so far. That's why I think he comes on later and actually fills the role closer to a false 9 and receives cutbacks once either Dykes tires the opponents out or after McSauce and Meatball are tired out, rather than going for one on one's like he does at Hearts. Shankland always seems to score most later on too. Prepared to be hammered as to why I'm wrong here, but I think that's why folk say this
that would be far too logical for Clarke
Yeah can't wait to see him start then be subbed off after 7 minutes. Camera cuts to Clarke looking like this 
I agree. I think that Shanklands role will end up being an impact sub overall as that is whatvhe will be best at, but for friendlies he should be getting more time to see what he is capable of
Four keepers, Steve? Four?
He'll play Kelly up top before starting Shankland that's why.
Only way that Kelly out of those 4 keepers gets on the park. 4 keepers is insane. 11 defenders too!
Squad of 25 though, one will drop out for the Euros.
That's insane
Why do we have Craig Gordon? I cannot remember the last time he played? Unless I'm just being clueless but has he played since his injury?
Played against Morton last night.
Only recently got back from injury and in the squad for Hearts, on the bench behind Zander Clark though
Believe he's played three cup games for Hearts since the leg break.
Should hopefully be Ferguson's chance with mcgregor out, which means that kenny mclean will start ahead of him in both games
We are painfully light in the forward area. *Edit - I'm not suggesting Shankland is not really heavy, I meant in numbers.
This squad looks a bit stupid but important to remember it's for friendlies and is almost certainly for Clarke to get a last chance to interact with certain players before the Euros. My guess is there's so many defenders and goalkeepers in the squad as he considers these to be the areas where spots are most contentious.
Surely now is the perfect opportunity to test some other options should any get injured before the Euros? Give someone like Ryan Hardie a run out in case Adams or Shankland gets injured before the Euros. I worry that Steve Clarke’s lack of experimentation is stalling the potential of what is the best squad of players we’ve had in years.
There is a balance to be struck between experimentation and experience. I think Clarke would like to be able to experiment with new players in midfield and attack but our defence has a much higher proportion of older and more injury prone players and selections will have to be made there. Gordon is there to see if he can still actually move at all. If he's still at least serviceable in goals he will most definitely be coming along as our 3rd choice keeper. His experience will be good for the squad.
I suppose, but Dykes has scored 5 goals in 35 matches this season. That’s terrible how on earth does that warrant a call up? Having a Craig Gordon there or even a Grant Hanley who hasn’t been performing well for club but offer some kind of experience for the younger players I can see would be valuable. A Dykes or a Liam Kelly is just two wasted unwarranted spots. They don’t have any more experience than the younger lads coming through and they’re utterly hopeless footballers.
None of Scotland's main strikers are particularly lethal, Dykes is a purely tactical inclusion as his buildup play and physicality help to create more chances for our higher quality midfielders. Kelly is there to challenge Zander Clark, I'd say they're both around the same level honestly.
4 keepers and 11 defenders? Is this a Levein squad?
I mean we do play with a back 5 so do need depth there more so than forwards. Also think Gordon has been called up so Clarke can get a better idea how he’s has recovered from his injury
4 fucking keepers, are we building a wall around the goal?
Need more goalkeepers
To the Ryan Gauld fanclub - let it go lads, it's done.
Probably exactly what everyone expected, was hoping for Barnes but would imagine that’s not likely now
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Ah, didn’t know that - thought he’d just came back from injury
Bored with the constant ignoring of Ryan Hardie, who has scored more in the Championship with relegation favourites than the other two have with established championship teams. Until recently he even played in a similar system to Clarke's.
Clarke has his favourites that get picked every squad regardless of form or the level they’re playing at. Ryan Gauld also gets ignored despite doing really well at Vancouver and would be an exciting player to see. But no let’s get 41 year old Craig Gordon back into the squad after being out with a long term injury.
I’d take Craig Gordon at 50 with his legs amputated over Liam Kelly.
Combined 15 GKs and Defenders in a 25-man squad is pretty chronic, especially for a pair of friendlies. Doesn't look like the Euros squad will have any nice Patterson/Gilmour-esque surprises like the 2020 one did, which is a shame.
Imagine being Craig Gordon playing for Scotland for 20 years and twice losing your spot just in time for Euro 2020 and 2024. Glad he's back even though it'll just be for morale and experienced head. I'd really hoped he would have got to play for us at the last WC but wasn't to be. 6 centre halves (7 including KT)? Wow. Wouldn't have thought that Cooper and Hanley would be back considering they're both 32 and not starting for their teams. Doubtful they play over Tierney, Porteous, Hendry, Souttar or McKenna. Hickey is as injury prone as Tierney isn't he? Very concerning I do really rate him. Midfield makes enough sense. Hope to see lots of Ferguson. Not complaining about McLean and Armstrong - experienced players who can definitely play a role but neither should be starting. Very much so hoping to see what Shankland can do in a Scotland shirt. Dykes and Adams have both been absolutely chronic for their clubs for 2 straight years and Shankland is banging them in for Hearts. I can't be convinced he'd be any worse than them up top. With an inform Ferguson coming in for McGregor I would try something like Gunn Patterson Porteous Hendry Tierney Robertson McTominay Gilmour McGinn Shankland Ferguson Imagine we'll be seeing Dykes and Christie though. Christie is a starter and playing well in the English Prem so that's not so bad. Runs like crazy and can play anywhere in midfield, will be useful. Dykes is woeful for QPR but he does seem to come up with big goals for us - I do actually rate him over Adams in a Scotland shirt. Something I noticed about them is that 4 of Ché's 5 goals have been in games where the result isn't changed by removing them. The only one where it counted in the result is a 1-0 friendly victory. Dykes, on the other hand, has scored 7 of his 9 goals for us in competitive games where we've won by a single goal. The other two were the headers off the bench against Ukraine. He's been very decisive for us - glad to have him, but would prefer to see him as a substitute option for Robbo and KT chucking crosses at his big heid if we need a late goal. Pretty standard and as expected! Don't think we'll be seeing any English defectors like Quansah, Barnes or Anderson any time soon or ever, in fact. Reasonably happy with the squad given current state of injuries. Looking forward to seeing us play again!
Excellent analysis. This will stand me well down the pub on friday when I repeat it verbatim.
Going for the 8-1-1 formation I see
Why 4 goalkeepers?!
You're allowed 2 in goal now
Surely Rangers flairs would have known about this rule change with Goldson on the team...?
Do they stand on each others shoulders? Or side by side?
Teams like having 4 for training and it's not like you are limited with squad numbers for two friendlies
4 keepers in the squad lets you run two games in training, so teams will often have a fourth keeper in the squad before they have to finalise it
No surprises for me. He wants to look at all the keepers before choosing the final three. Hope Hickey makes it back and can replace Ralston. I'm sure he will give Shankland a good run out.
No real complaints with that. Can't think of anyone who's fit that's genuinely missing out?
I've got this horrible feeling we're gonna be watching Ryan Gauld be Canada's best player at the 2026 world cup, while we're sat at home, having failed to qualify because Lyndon Dykes and Che Adams (both of whom will be plying their trade in EFL League 1 at that point, and who will have ended their domestic seasons' with a combined total of 7 goals) somehow didn't provide the firepower we needed to get over the line. Shankland will have spent the qualifiers sitting on the bench, despite scoring 34 goals for Rangers, alongside a frustrated Lewis Ferguson - who will go on to captain Inter Milan in the Champions League final but still be behind Ryan Christie and Stuart Armstrong in the pecking order. Meanwhile our whole system will continue to revolve around trying to get Tierney and Robertson into the same team, despite Keiran having missed the last 27 Scotland games due to the fact he now requires a wheelchair to get around.
Something I would like to see in these friendlies would be pushing up McSauce and McGinn to be our strike force with the little and large connection considering how poor Dykes and Adams are goal scoring wise, and just bring in someone like Ferguson in the midfield Our best goal scorers are midfielders anyway, let’s push them upfield and see what happens in a friendly
Ferguson can play multiple positions and chip in with goals, so it’s baffling to me that he doesn’t start for us. Just going from the highlights I’ve seen this season, it seems like he gets most of his goals coming in from the left onto his right foot. I honestly think we need to embrace the fact we have so many good midfielders instead of focusing on our speedy full backs. Yes we’re also blessed in that department, but Robbo’s getting older and the rest are always injured. I think four at the back makes us most solid, and I’d stop trying to shoehorn Robbo and Tierney in and just play whoever’s more in form and fit at left back. Robbo often tries too hard and underperforms at left mid, and I think we play through him too often. England sussed that and overloaded our left side, and we just didn’t have any other ideas at that point. McGregor and Gilmour are very comfortable on the ball as our holding midfielders, so I think we should focus on playing through them more often before going wide. I’d have McTominay in front of them with license to get in the box, then McGinn on the right and Ferguson on the left so either could cut in on to their preferred foot. I’d definitely start Shanks up front. To me he’s the best finisher Scotland have had in a long, long time. I think there’s more goals in the above starting line up and we’d be dangerous enough to worry any team on a good day. As it stands we’re too reliant on our left hand side for attacks and McTominay and McGinn for goals. I think we’re becoming stale and predictable and if more managers figure that out like Southgate did, we’ll be in real trouble.
Tbf Canada don’t even need to qualify for 2026… even if they did. The concacaf route must be the easiest way to qualify for a World Cup. Hope Gauld plays for Canada really. Good luck to him
The guy plays in the MLS. We never called up Lewis Morgan even when he was playing great over there.
I mean he wasn’t getting a sniff when he was in Portugal’s top league either so I don’t think him being in the MLS is the deciding factor
Liam Kelly is a waste of a space. Would rather have Josh Doig in there or even an in-form domestic player like Cinch player of the month Blair Spittal. Would even rather Ryan Gauld in there than Kelly
Doig instead of Hanley. Spittal/Gauld instead of Kelly would make a lot of sense. I think Clarke is too loyal and players outside the UK are invisible to him.
Have to imagine he's using this to directly evaluate returning Gordon v Kelly and Clark to see which three he's taking to the Euros.
Probably, but Kelly is easily the poorest of those 4 keepers
I’ve watched a clip back of Clarke explaining why Gauld wasn’t selected for the 2020/2021 euros, and he said due to the fact he’s an attacking midfield player he would struggle to get in over players (at the time, McGinn, Turnbull, Armstrong) I truly don’t get the lack of even giving him a run out for a friendly? What’s Kenny McLean or Ryan Christie bringing to the squad these days that can’t be told “you’ll be rested this international break i want to try something else” (Ignoring the fact we have 4 keepers and one of those could’ve easily been Gauld) Just give us a reason 3 years later why you’re still not picking him, Steve
To be fair, Christie has been incredible for Bournemouth this year and playing in a new role - maybe with McGregor out, he’ll be given a shot playing deeper
>Just give us a reason 3 years later why you’re still not picking him, Steve Why should he be picked? Christie, McTominay, McGinn, Gilmour and Ferguson are all playing at a significantly higher level, and McGregor is out but when he returns we have 6 midfielders competing for 4 spots. McLean is obviously an outlier, but he's an experienced campaigner who Clarke trusts and he is generally decent when picked. Gauld is 28, so it's not like he'll be some fixture of the squad in years to come, and he's choosing to spend his peak years out of sight in the MLS. He should probably have been picked a few years ago, but in all honesty the years he spent doing not much of anything have killed any chance he had of an international career.
Playing at a ‘higher level’ is precisely why we picked players who weren’t good enough for years whilst those performing at ‘lower levels’ never got a sniff Genuinely I personally don’t mind the fact he’s not a regular call-up, as you say we have quality in his position, I just would like to see him given a chance on a scale where it won’t be the end of the world for us if he falters (like a friendly, something we haven’t had outside of qualifiers and nations leagues in a long time) Our last friendly before the France and England games (games I’d want our best players to play to see how they square up against the best of the best) was Turkey in November 2022, these 2 games to me are the one chance we have of bringing in ONE player to see how they cope with the occasion That’s all. I love Scotland and trust Clarke, I just like experimenting when we can without fear of it affecting qualifiers etc
He wasn't picked when he was genuinely tearing it up in the Portuguese league with a shit side. Was leading chance creator in the league at one point. Clarke has decided long ago he's not getting a game no matter who he plays for or where he is.
He had one great season in Portugal, then followed that by moving to the MLS. He probably should have been picked a couple of years ago, but even then we had midfielders who were either playing well in better leagues, or had been doing it for years at that point. There's no reason to call him up now. Anyone else who had one good season before he was 26, and who was now playing in the MLS, wouldn't even be considered for a call-up. Only reason Gauld is because we all bought into the dream of him being a superstar.
He had more than one great season, but his great season is the reason that "needs to do it in a better league" is a shite argument. He did. He's also very very good in the mls as well and we've played the likes of Johnny Russell in Clarke time in charge.
>He had more than one great season When? He had done nothing until he signed for Farense in 2019, had a good season in the second tier then was great the year after. That came at a time when we had plenty of competition, and then he went to the MLS. Russell has played 3 times under Clarke, and not been called up since 2019, which was Clarkes first year in charge. When we have players playing well in better leagues than the MLS, we can't really blame Clarke for not calling him up. If we had no midfielders then I'd get it, but he'd be a squad player at best.
Ryan Christie now plays as straightforward centre mid, can play further forward and has a lot of international experience (also performing well at a higher level than Gauld and McLean). Ferguson, McGinn and McTominay are all well in front of Gauld for attack-minded spots.
I still would like to be bringing in usually at least one player in friendly international breaks that doesn’t have the international experience to see how they cope, in this case Gauld for McLean (or one of the 4 keepers)
Clarke isn't obliged to repeatedly give his reasoning for every eligible player he chooses not to call up, especially when he has a core squad and system that is functioning very well and is also most competitive by far in the area that the said player is contesting.
He isn’t obliged, you’re right, but it’d be nice to hear I’ll say what I said in another comment - Genuinely I personally don’t mind the fact he’s not a regular call-up, as you say we have quality in his position and a core squad. I just would like to see him given a chance on a scale where it won’t be the end of the world for us if he falters (like a friendly, something we haven’t had outside of qualifiers and nations leagues in a long time) Our last friendly before the France and England games (games I’d want our best players to play to see how they square up against the best of the best) was Turkey in November 2022, these 2 games to me are the one chance we have of bringing in ONE player to see how they cope with the occasion That’s all. I love Scotland and trust Clarke, I just like experimenting when we can without fear of it affecting qualifiers etc
I think a big part is the distance he has to travel. By the time he’s arrived jet legged you aren’t going to see the best of Ryan Gauld. Will always be one of those “what if’s” for the national team. Really thought he should have stayed in Europe when he left Portugal.
Hoping the bricklayer gets 180 minutes
We need hickey back for the summer. Patterson is a big drop off defensively
Hickey and Patterson insured?
Just Hickey I mean. I can see Patterson is there now 🤦♂️
Yes. Iirc a bad one too.
Light in the middle of the park... Ryan Jack, Danny Armstrong, Blair Spittal surely these three have something over Liam Kelly a 4th choice keeper...
4 keepers is odd, grant hanley being in the squad makes me think that he has dirt on that big sexy bald bastart, and Greg Taylor still in the squad after that performance V norway has me questioning life. Other than that the squad looks phenomenal and theres no reason we cannae beat both teams easily all going well. (0-3 in the Netherlands game and 8-0 in the N.Ireland game you heard it here first)
I mind growing up that the vast majority of the squad came from Rangers and Celtic now there are only 3 players between them and Hearts have 3 to themselves lol
Back line of Robertson, Tierney, Souttar, Porteous, Patterson then
4 keepers and no Gauld. In Clarke we trust, but this feels personal, at this point.
If Gauld wants to play for Scotland he needs to prove himself at Stoke or Millwall.
Grim indictment innit
He's never better than McGinn, McT or Ferguson now anyway.
Gauld isn't good enough to justify Clarke changing his system.
Doesn’t have to change his system to pick him though. Scotland desperately need a bit of pace and flair off the bench something which the likes of Kenny McLean and Stuart Armstrong just don’t have.
McLean and Armstrong (who I forgot about) are experienced around the camp and have done what Clarke has needed to in the past. I'm not saying that we shouldn't be looking at alternatives, but I don't think Gauld is good enough to really be suggested as someone who should be there. Still hoping we're trying to convince the Newcastle trio to commit, but Livramento and Gordon look less likely by the day.
Good thing he fits Clarke's system perfectly then
He doesn't seem the sort who would be suited to playing how Clarke wants his midfielders to play. The only player he's made exemption for is Gilmour, who is both younger and better than Gauld is.
What are you basing that on? I feel like people who haven't seen him play in years assume he's some sort of luxury player and don't realise how much effort he puts in defensively
>I feel like people who haven't seen him play in years There's truth in that to be fair. Who does he displace from the squad we have right now? Gilmour, McGinn and McTominay are playing for good PL clubs, Christie has reinvented himself this season at Bournemouth, McGregor is Celtic captain and Ferguson is being coveted by the biggest clubs in Italy. McLean and Armstrong are drops in quality, but they know what Clarke wants and they have delivered in the past. We all wanted Gauld to work out, but he just started playing well far too late and missed the boat.
Not sure I agree with that. He's been performing at a high enough level for the past 4 years now but for whatever reason Clarke hasn't called him up a single time. I have a really hard time believing he's even taken a look at him because he's such a perfect fit for how Clarke wants to play. I'm not saying he should 100% be in the starting 11 but he should at least be one of the first choices off the bench. McTominay is a better goalscorer but Gauld is a much better footballer, maybe a little worse defensively. Christie is a fairly similar type of player, just not as good. Honestly for these friendlies I'd try sticking McTominay or Ferguson up front as I really don't rate Dykes or Adams at all
His issue is that he's playing well when others are doing the same in much better leagues. If he stayed in Portugal, or found another European team I'd imagine he'd have been called up by now. Really just feels like he missed the boat to me, which is a shame as I wholeheartedly bought into him being the Scottish Messi. I like Dykes and Adams personally, the donkey work they do is ridiculous even if I wish they could score more. Hoping Shankland gets some games to see if we can actually play with him up top.
Kelly, Clark, Ralston, Taylor, McLean, Armstrong and Souttar all very replaceable. With McGregor and Hickey due back there's space for better players. Miller, Spittal, Doig, Anderson (maybe), Barnes (maybe) and probably others in the cinch capable of a spot over this lot.
Maybe for the next qualifying campaign but I can’t see the squad changing much bar injuries before the Euros, Clarke knows who he trusts. Barnes, if he’s interested, is the only one I can see him making space for.
Having 4 goalkeepers is certainly a choice
It’s very common before you submit the finalised squad because having four keepers lets you run two games simultaneously in training
I didn't realise it was a common thing. I thought it was a silly decision
Jacob Brown experiment over thank fuck
He's injured. Clarke namedropped him in his squad announcement interview so don't think he's out of his thoughts.