Group D - opponent watch!

[Stuttgart88]

Interesting how they have been solid defensively with Grant Hanly at CB. He impressed me when in the EPL but it'd appear he is no more than a solid and reliable Championship CB which we have in abundance.

Maloney said in the press yesterday that they are a team with no star quality but a work ethic, a cameraderie, a sense of purpose and a lot of organisation. At the very least we ought to match that once MON gets his message through, plus a bit on top. They have yet to really play anyone they'd be expected to beat comfortably. Their best results have been (great results) in games where they have stood up to a better team and nicked a goal. It remains to be seen whether they can turn the tables against teams that try to do the same. Also, they have yet to play anyone under pressure. They have eeked out good results when only their pride was at stake.

[Stuttgart88]

Scotland back in front. We're doomed.

I think all 3 goals have been deflections.

[Charlie Darwin]

Oh jinx, wae're screwed tae ****.

[tricky_colour]

Nigeria ranked 102 Scotland 22, they are really doing well.
They seem to have turned the table on us.

[Charlie Darwin]

Brown would be off for that tackle in a normal game, very nasty. He is a walking red card and I hope we get at him. This Scotland side aren't any great shakes, they look like us a few years back.

[Charlie Darwin]

I can't help but feel partially responsible.

[tricky_colour]

Scottish goal keepers living up to their reputation.

[Charlie Darwin]

http://oi62.tinypic.com/alollj.jpg

[geysir]

Scottish goal keepers living up to their reputation.Yes, but the question we have to ask is would Shane have buried it or fluffed it (aka, making the goalkeeper look good)?

[geysir]

That Nigerian goalie was in on the betting scam.

[Charlie Darwin]

That Nigerian goalie was in on the betting scam.
Unfortunately he protested too much and got a free kick.

[tricky_colour]

http://oi62.tinypic.com/alollj.jpg

Not seen that before but a blatant handball.
So Scotland effectively lost to a team ranked 102 (which is worse than us!! ;) )

[Charlie Darwin]

Not seen that before but a blatant handball.
So Scotland effectively lost to a team ranked 102 (which is worse than us!! ;) )
No, it was disallowed for a foul.

[geysir]

It wasn't a handball Tricky, the Scot's head knocked against the goalie's hand, his arms were away from the ball.
Frames 15 to 21 in the giff.

[DannyInvincible]

We're doomed.

I think all 3 goals have been deflections.

With Scotland's secret weapon being the deflected own-goal, any possible return of Richard Dunne could prove our downfall. :p


That Nigerian goalie was in on the betting scam.

I came across this blog piece on Slate earlier featuring some truly astounding tales of the goings on in Nigerian football: http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_spot/2014/05/26/nigeria_2014_world_cup_have_nigeria_s_youth_victor ies_hurt_the_senior_national.html


There have been 15 international FIFA Youth Championships. Nigeria has won four of them, including the 2007 and 2013 titles, and finished second another three times. The Nigerians are also the reigning champions of Africa, have one of the best World Cup pedigrees outside of Europe or South America, and a roster that features a handful of household names. Why, then, isn’t Nigeria a serious contender in Brazil?

The answer is that, historically, Nigerian football has been synonymous with self-sabotage and dysfunction. “Traversing the minefield of Nigerian football is no task for the faint-hearted,” writes Osasu Obayiuwana (http://www.insideworldfootball.com/osasu-obayiuwana/12344-osasu-obayiuwana-nigerian-football-it-s-a-mad-mad-world?highlight=WyJuaWdlcmlhIl0=), a BBC journalist and expert on African football. “Pulling defeat and sorrow out of the jaws of victory … is a well-established Nigerian tradition.”

It’s tough to know where to start. How about the fact that current coach Stephen Keshi won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations but still didn’t get paid (http://www.infonigeria.net/keshi-disappointed-over-unpaid-wages/)? There’s also the recent match-fixing in Nigeria’s domestic league that led to the farcical scores of 79–0 and 67–0 (http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/jul/09/nigeria-scandalous-scorelines). And consider that the secretary-general of Nigeria’s football federation once said it was OK for refs to take bribes, so long as they don’t let the money influence their decisions (http://www.espnfc.com/news/story?id=363449&cc=5901).

[ArdeeBhoy]

Got free tickets for this, passing through, Scotland played very well IMO. Albeit not heard of any of Nigeria's players, they seemed destined to bomb, like us in the Euros.

Liked the way Scotland used the wings a lot and seemed to have a fluent syle about them, though their defence is definitely a bit dodgy at times.

[geysir]

With Scotland's secret weapon being the deflected own-goal, any possible return of Richard Dunne could prove our downfall. :p

I came across this blog piece on Slate earlier featuring some truly astounding tales of the goings on in Nigerian football: http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_spot/2014/05/26/nigeria_2014_world_cup_have_nigeria_s_youth_victor ies_hurt_the_senior_national.html
The allegations were around this match, the allegations went global and in the Sidney Morning Herald (http://www.smh.com.au/fifa-world-cup-2014/world-cup-news-2014/matchfixing-probe-overshadows-nigeriascotland-draw-20140529-zrrd6.html) the mug shot they used of Strachan looks damming.

[Stuttgart88]

Georgia 1 up away (or neutral?) to Saudi Arabia at HT. We're doomed.

[Stuttgart88]

2 now. One more and they're as good as we are.

[Charlie Darwin]

I haven't been this pessimistic about the future of Irish football since Scotland went 2-1 up against Nigeria :(

[pineapple stu]

Given they then went and lost 1-0 to the UAE, I think hope can be restored. :)

Gibraltar 0-0 Malta at half-time.

[pineapple stu]

1-0 Gibraltar with five minutes to go!

[pineapple stu]

That's a result now. Their first ever full international win.

[Stuttgart88]

We're doomed.

[Charlie Darwin]

It was bad enough when it was only Scotland and Georgia we had to worry about.

[Stuttgart88]

Germany win World Cup suggesting they might be a tricky opponent.


Some bloke called Lahm retires from international football

http://www.dw.de/germany-captain-philipp-lahm-retires-from-national-team/a-17793396

[BonnieShels]

Thank god.

It's not like they have any decent players to replace him...

Gulp.

Not like me to praise him, but what a player.

[ifk101]

Sure Lahm is a top RB but he was average enough by his "usual" standards in the WC. Playing him in midfield was a massive failure. Would have been great for us if they tried to play him in midfield again during the qualifiers.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Transfer Window Analysis

Scotland

Danny Fox - Nottingham Forest
Phil Bardsley - Stoke
Aaron Taylor-Sinclair - Wigan
Chris Kettings - Crystal Palace
Stephen Kingsley - Swansea
Robert Snodgrass - Hull City
Ross McCormack - Fulham
Don Cowie - Wigan
Chris Burke - Nottingham Forest
Andrew Robertson - Hull
Ryan Gauld - Sporting Lisbon
Tony Watt - Standard Liege

Ireland

Steven Reid - Burnley
Sam Byrne - Everton
Keith Andrews - Watford
Stephen Henderson - Charlton
Keiren Westwood - Sheffield Wednesday
Joe Murphy - Huddersfield
Gavin Gunning - Birmingham
Stephen Gleeson - Birmingham
Paul Green - Rotherham
Alan Judge - Brentford

I just included the Scottish players who are moving to Premier League clubs, big European clubs and big Championship teams. I had to include every Championship related Irish transfer to make up the numbers. Of the Irish transfers, Byrne has been signed for Everton's U-21 team, Reid is 33 and was already playing PL football anyway and Andrews is pushing 34. Three young Scottish left-backs have made moves to Premier League teams or high end Championship teams. Our designated left-back is in Wolves' bomb squad. A couple of young Scottish players have also made eye catching moves to pedigree continental teams, which is something that is alien to our young players. Ross McCormack is one of the Scots listed that hasn't moved up to the PL but an 11m transfer fee shows Fulham's PL ambitions. The contrast in transfer windows from Scottish and Irish perspectives is made all the more galling by the fact that our two biggest transfer window movers in recent times are Scottish born.

There is a remarkable shortage of Irish players competing in the Premier League, a shortage of genuine contenders coming through and even a paucity of quality players under-25 in the Championship.

In the interest of balance, Paddy McCarthy has yet to be sold by Crystal Palace and could make the squad of 25 as back up. Enda Stevens has impressed in pre-season for Villa and even won over a significant amount of skeptical fans. Jack Grealish has got rave reviews though he remains eligible for England. Other young Irish players like Carruthers, Burke, Sutherland, Harriman and Duffy have seen pre-season action though all face an uphill climb to make it for their clubs.

[DeLorean]

Thankfully it's not only players involved in summer transfer activity 2014 that are eligible when we play them. We already have established first team players at the majority of those clubs. What difference does it make if they were recently signed or not? Fair enough to be concerned about not having anybody playing for the really top sides but the Scots don't either. The only transfers on that list that is worth looking out for is Gauld and maybe McCormack just because of the fee. James McCarthy went to a bigger club for a bigger fee less than a year ago though.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://thescore.thejournal.ie/klose-retires-from-international-football-1614316-Aug2014/

Klose retires.

[DannyInvincible]

http://thescore.thejournal.ie/klose-retires-from-international-football-1614316-Aug2014/

Klose retires.

Hey, you left out this part of the headline: "...to leave Robbie Keane as the world’s top international goalscorer". :p

[Charlie Darwin]

All that pointing and gesticulating has finally paid off for Robbie.

[Stuttgart88]

Klose just walks away.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/aug/15/arsenal-per-mertesacker-retires-germany-international

Mertesacker retires.

[ArdeeBhoy]

All this is irrelevant, we're going to get humped, home and away...

[Charlie Darwin]

If you think it's irrelevant just ignore it, for christ's sake. Just because it doesn't interest you doesn't mean nobody else wants to talk about it.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Except I do...
;)

[tricky_colour]

http://thescore.thejournal.ie/klose-retires-from-international-football-1614316-Aug2014/

Klose retires.

Phew, that was close.

I actualy thnk he was afrdiad of playing against Ireland and chickened out before his lack of technique was exposed.

[tricky_colour]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/aug/15/arsenal-per-mertesacker-retires-germany-international

Mertesacker retires.


Another one afraid of facing the Irish, I don't know why the German team don't just throw in the towel now to save being embarrassed by Ireland.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

2 odd weeks until Oman, 3 odd weeks until Georgia. Anyone know when the squad is being announced?

Edit: 21 August

Snodgrass is on crutches and a brace. He may be a doubt in 3 months time. Potentially good news on the club front for Meyler and Quinn at the same time.

[Charlie Darwin]

2 odd weeks until Oman, 3 odd weeks until Georgia. Anyone know when the squad is being announced?

Edit: 21 August

Snodgrass is on crutches and a brace. He may be a doubt in 3 months time. Potentially good news on the club front for Meyler and Quinn at the same time.
Quinn came on for Snodgrass (surprisingly not Brady) and excelled in his stead.

[back of the net]

looks like snodgrass is out for 4 months - very good news for us

[Stuttgart88]

Sounds like McGregor was at fault tonight? He saved a penno at the weekend though.

So, whose players have started the season better, Scotland's or Ireland's?

Let's not forget Stokes has had a reasonable start. I'd prefer to be in 12 million pound Shane Long's shoes than Ross McCormack's 11 million pound ones :).

Serious question though. I'm quietly enthused by the Irish start to the season, even if it's only stuff like Westwood impressing, Brady and McShane getting game time, McGready scoring a beauty, and even young Lenihan getting a good move to England.

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't think Lenihan will be troubling the national team for a while yet wherever he moves. Look at how long it took Coleman and he was a lot closer to the Everton first team than Lenihan will be at Hull or Brighton. Still, it's a positive.

And, yeah, McGregor passed the ball directly to the Lokeren centre forward. I await somebody trying to explain how McShane should have been tighter on him at the time.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www.goal.com/en-au/news/4016/main/2014/08/21/5050153/knee-injury-no-cause-for-concern-says-schweinsteiger

Schweinsteiger out for 5-6 weeks.

Germany v Ireland game is on 14 October.

[Charlie Darwin]

They're dropping like flies lads, terrified of us.

[tetsujin1979]

Scotland's 26 man squad announced for their opener against Germany: http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=2986&newsID=13643&newsCategoryID=1

Goalkeepers
Craig Gordon (Celtic)
David Marshall (Cardiff City)
Alan McGregor (Hull City)

Defenders
Christophe Berra (Ipswich Town)
Craig Forsyth (Derby County)
Gordon Greer (Brighton and Hove Albion)
Grant Hanley (Blackburn Rovers)
Alan Hutton (Aston Villa)
Russell Martin (Norwich City)
Andrew Robertson (Hull City)
Steven Whittaker (Norwich City)

Midfielders
Ikechi Anya (Watford)
Barry Bannan (Crystal Palace)
Craig Bryson (Derby County)
Chris Burke (Nottingham Forest)
Graham Dorrans (West Bromwich Albion)
Darren Fletcher (Manchester United)
Shaun Maloney (Wigan Athletic)
James McArthur (Wigan Athletic)
Kevin McDonald (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Callum McGregor (Celtic)
James Morrison (West Bromwich Albion)
Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic)

Forwards
Steven Fletcher (Sunderland)
Chris Martin (Derby County)
Steven Naismith (Everton)

[Olé Olé]

We get worried about our back four. Christ, those poor Scots don't have much to choose from in that department. Only two of the eight defenders are in the PL.

[ArdeeBhoy]

They have potentially 3 better keepers though.