starchief

It's a great name and I've met people who have ICT as their Scottish team purely due to the name (QoS is also a favourite). I don't think the rebels would go to a club that killed completely their old one either. This way, both clubs get to live on a little, yet the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. What should our name be? I'll let him have the last word:

Only Kenny Miller has scored more than Rooney. From the little I've seen too, he's working hard and holding the ball up. I think he's become a real team player and won't be surprised if he goes further. Foran, as has been said, is still not in his position. Doing his bit for the team, rather than something a bit more selfish. I've no fears he will be a very important player. With Hayes, you're really looking for him to do something a bit special on occasion. Obviously that's going to be tougher in the SPL than the SFL. If he's doing it week in/week out, then that's worthy of Old Firm interest. As it is, he should be compared to wingers from the likes of the Accies, the Saints (both of them), maybe even Aberdeen etc. - i.e. teams with not much cash, more concerned with relegation than Europe. So, would you rather have Aluko, Imrie or Hayes?

McCulloch or Caldwell??? He's a completely different player than them. I know you talked about an attacking mindset but that's really a system change rather than player comparison. Adam had a chance to excel against Wales but was sub-standard. Both Dorrans and Morrison (his main rivals) though took their chance when given. I wouldn't rule out Adam but he was average at best when with Rangers. If he gets another spot, he really has to take it. Right now, he's rightly a squad player.

4th! 4th? 4th!! Incredible. Bad luck to Aberdeen who lost today. What chance did they have though with those injuries, that weather, the referee, climate change, the Tory cuts, Spain winning the World Cup etc etc etc. It's all conspired against McGhee. You can't hold the p1ss-poor run of results against them.

Hmmm, Duncan onto the bench with it being Duff and, presumably, Ross in def mid. Bit of a surprise.

Presumably a book serialisation or something but your super soaraway Scum has the first part of an interview with big Dunc here: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/3182508/Players-sat-stunned-as-drunk-Stevie-tried-to-give-a-team-talk.html Probably not new stories but a different perspective. Anyone remember if SHEEEEAAAAARRRRREEEERRRRRRRRRR!!!! was ever up for the manager post when Pele left?

Fraser had moved to Uddingston, so wanted to stay there.

I do a little bit of work in mining and can tell you that Chile has recently become a hotspot for ex-pat miners. Usually, ex-pats are drafted in to improve things like EH&S, as well as managerial skills.

Yeah, with the passports for football and the other for nightclubs.

The Europeans have long criticised the likes of Scotland for placing too much emphasis on winning at U21 level. In the late 80s, we should have won the World Cup but it didn't translate to a golden age. Someone once compared it to Liverpool v Everton U12s, where Liverpool won 11-1 (IIRC). But long-term, Everton won asWayne Rooney came through the ranks.

It was a great feeling when they started bringing out the miners. My favourite was Juan. But then, I got a bit bored with it. After all... ...seen Juan, seen 'em all...

That was a lot better. Okay, we were never going to be able to match Spain for skill but I thought the passion was back. Didn't think it was a penalty - Whittaker was looking the other way - certainly shouldn't have been a yellow card. I think that was the best Scotland could do tonight. Not good enough for the top teams but, play like that, and we could yet finish 2nd. A few little points - I'd probably prefer to see Iwulemo come on for a bit of strong arm tactics up front. McManus was to blame for their winning goal but he did well most of the match and, remember, he does only play for an average side in the Championship - that's the level we have to pick. Better than Lithuania but not as good as Spain. Whittaker I've never really liked as a LB but who else have we got? He always looks so much better on the left-wing. Gives us some hope.

Are we not mixing up 'best' with 'key' with Foran? If Richie is injured, who replaces him? A few people. Who replaces Rooney? We don't really have one that's tried and tested. Rooney is the attacking point of the team. Scores the goals and holds up the play. We have a blunt edge without our only recognised attacker. Foran's the better player but his position isn't key.

Yeah, but most of them are past their best (especially Billy Bremner!). Even in their prime, I'd still have the razor sharp Wallace over McGrain and the mighty Darren Fletcher over Souness. Archie Gemmill or Charlie 'the pride of Glasgow' Adam? Hmmmm, so difficult to choose. Dalglish and Law might have been fine for the San Marinos of this world but we have to feel blessed when even the likes of Kenny Miller and Chris Iwulemo can't get a game. This truly is the finest Scottish team......ever! (or then again, maybe not...)

You're missing the point of the thread and

I think a defensive formation was right against the Czechs but it was just the wrong defensive formation. Without an attacker, the Czechs were easily picking up the ball at the back, having time to get their men into position and putting as many people forward as they would have liked. None of this would have happened if we 'defended from the front'. Look at our record of managers: Craig Brown - defensive Berti Vogts - attacking Walter Smith - defensive Alex McLeish - defensive George Burley - attacking The biggest failing McLeish had was when he ditched the caution for the game against Georgia --- and we lost 2-0! We can't match the top teams if we're relying on Kris Commons or Stevie Naismith to create chances. Hard workers with a bit of skill but not something to base an international team on. Out of the ex-pats, Scotland don't have a single attacking player (possible exception: McFadden but he's out for the season) in a team that can challenge for a European place in the EPL. Adam failed to take his chance when given it with Scotland (I'm not saying he doesn't deserve another but it's far from guaranteed that he'll do anything this time), Maloney couldn't get a regular game at Villa and O'Connor is out on loan and failing to make the grade. Steven Fletcher is having a poor season but I can't see him ever going to Spurs, Liverpool, Villa etc. Lower EPL is his level (and it's a good level but he's not a world beater). Kenny Miller has also not been on the radar of the upper EPL in his entire career. So, based on that, I'd follow the Brown/Smith/McLeish line-up of keeping it tight, working hard and trying to score on the break (not the duck shoot that Levein tried). Although, I think your formation can be played as a counter-attack. As per your suggestion, with everyone fit and suspensions etc not counting, I would have: Gordon or McGregor Hutton - Caldwell - McManus - Wallace Hartley Morrison - Fletcher - Adam - Dorrans Miller I would normally have said Gordon but McGregor has looked sound at this level, so I've no problem with either. Before Mowbray, Caldwell and McManus were the basis of title winning Celtic teams. They know each other's game and were tight under Strachan. Caldwell seems to be a source of ridicule but before Mowbray he was player of the season. The way Hartley's been performing for Aberdeen this and Bristol C last, makes him a cert in def mid - right on Rosicky's tale. McCulloch's a good replacement. In mid, it's either/or for Brown and Fletcher (too similar, likewise Barry Ferguson), so Fletcher alongside Adam, who can pass and keep the ball. Up front, Miller to make a nuisance of himself and tire out the opposition. He's quick enough also to pounce on mistakes, plus his energy would be advantage for any subs coming on to attack the tired defenders. But I don't think there's any way back for attacking football. Scotland just don't have the depth, as Vogts and Burley found out to their (and our) cost.

Rooney for me. Everyone else has a genuine replacement. Plus he's the key to our game. Scores the goals or holds it up for one of the three to attack. Note: he's not our best player but, to me, he's the key.

But it wasn't even that. I don't have a problem with teams playing negatively if that's the best they can do but even Rangers in Europe play at least ONE striker. All we did was get the ball then have to give it straight back for constant pressure. It wasn't anti-football. It was a duck shoot. (and Craig Levein bowing to the Old Firm is just ridiculous - much as I thought his tactics were dismal, he's very much his own man)

Very little. I'd rather save some children's lives. When I think of the money spent on football that could have been spent elsewhere...

It's not about the performance, it's all about the result... ...and we didn't get that. Having no strikers didn't work at all. It just meant the central defenders could take their time when the ball was punted up. I don't think that extra player in midfield made any difference at all. I wonder if Kenny Miller will be thinking 'if I'm not in the manager's plans against the top seeds, might as well retire'. It's no shame to lose away to the Czechs but to give ourselves little chance of scoring and every chance of conceding by allowing relentless pressure is just crazy. No points and a deeply unenjoyable performance.

Totally pinned back with no outlet. I can't see us holding on for the entire 90 mins when all we can do is give the ball back to the Czechs if we try to attack.

Strange one this. I like Gary Caldwell - think he could go on to much higher things - but he's just not fit enough. Not too fond of dropping Miller either. I've not been a big fan of him before this season but he's in great form. I know Levein would argue that Mackie and Naismith are slightly more defensive but I'm not even sure of that. Miller will run his heart out and do a job in many positions. In fact, I often thought he should really have dropped to wing/att mid in previous seasons. Dorrans I would normally have in but he's not been playing due to some personal problems (dunno what). I agree we should be defending in depth but without a single player to bother their defence? As Han Solo might have said: I've got a bad feeling about this.

At the moment, I agree with the OP. However, come the end of season, I expect Eric to have faded and Blumenshtein to have taken over. I can't see Ross lasting (or even being expected to) all season. More power to him whilst he is though.

Probably more competitive than the SPL unfortunately.

I know why you're saying "Long may it continue!" but I disagree. I'd love ANYONE to seriously challenge the Old Firm - just as they did 20 years ago. Hibs did well up to a point but it's become a case of 'what is the club for?' Selling players to balance the books from a big debt is great business sense. Selling with a manageable debt displays a lack of ambition. I'm not talking about suicidal Dundee investment but getting finance can either be done by selling at Harrods and buying at the Co-op, or by keeping some of those players to mount a challenge. Hibs aren't in desperate need of the cash but they'll keep selling anyway. It's missing the point.