FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFYING MATCH
SCOTLAND v NORWAY
The National Stadium, Hampden Park, Glasgow
Saturday 11th October
Kick-off 3 pm


Goalkeepers
Craig Gordon Sunderland
Allan McGregor Rangers
David Marshall Norwich City

Defenders
Graham Alexander Burnley
Darren Barr Falkirk
Christophe Berra Hearts
Kirk Broadfoot Rangers
Gary Caldwell Celtic
Jamie McAllister Bristol City
Gary Naysmith Sheffield United
David Weir Rangers

Midfielders
Scott Brown Celtic
Kris Commons Derby County
Darren Fletcher Manchester United
Paul Hartley Celtic
Shaun Maloney Celtic
James Morrison West Bromwich Albion
Barry Robson Celtic
Kevin Thomson Rangers

Forwards
Kris Boyd Rangers
David Clarkson Motherwell
Steven Fletcher Hibernian
Chris Iwelumo Wolverhampton Wanderers
James McFadden Birmingham City
Kenny Miller Rangers

I would like nothing more than McAllister to replace Naysmith, a true liabilty in every sense of the word. I have never seen a footballer hit so many aimless long balls up the line than this guy.

Glad to see Iwelumo getting a shout but will he even get near the team?

Glad to see the big man finally getting a call-up, hes been on great form for wolves this season and its another ex St Mirren Player in the squad

Think he should start upfront with Miller with McFadden on the left, and as usual Burley just leaving Boyd on the bench to rot, would like 2 see a 4-3-3 against Norway, however i just can't see it

edit for spelling mistake

Is Burley on the fucking wind up?

I genually didnt realise David Marshall still played football.
McCallister likewise.
Naysmith is fucking shite.
Hartley is possibly the worst footballer in the Northern Hemisphere. At any level.

The midfield is still a bit 'same shit, different month' isn't it.

Give somone else a chance, Hartley for one regularly turns in absolutely dreadful performances at both Club and International level.

Iwelumo could be a decent option for us. One of the better strikers in the Championship for a few years it's long over due that he is in the squad.

Glad that Iwelumo is in but where has McAllister come from? He's a very average Championship player by all accounts. Burley has overlooked the younger contenders to the left back role, namely Mulgrew, Wallace and Brian Easton, who has been in fantastic form for Accies. Naysmith isn't that bad, neither is Hartley, some folk on here like to paint players as either great or hopeless, no in between. Not that I would start with Hartley mind, but he's done us a turn in the past, MOTM in Paris for example.

Canadian Internationalist Richard Hastings should be in the squad.

Why is the Rangers reserve keeper in the squad? Surely it would make more sense to pick the Huns' 1st choice keeper?

The midfield options really are dire.I just hope that Ferguson is rejuvenated by his time out.

And to think just 10 years ago we proper, classy footballers like Collins, Lambert and McCallister in the midfield

Jamie McAllister I'm pleased with because it's another option at left back and has been playing well for Bristol City by all accounts.

Iwelumo is a great addition because he's on fire with Wolves, but he's currently on a three-game ban and by the time the Scotland game comes round, he'll have gone three weeks without a game.

I really don't see the point in having David Marshall in the squad. He's fast becoming the Alan Main of the Scotland set-up (100 call-ups, nae caps from the 90's or something).

Why not bring in someone like Combe at Kilmarnock, who has done well in his time at Rugby Park?

I suppose it's no too bad when one of your complaints is the 3rd choice keeper who's no going to get a game anyway.

The squad pretty much picks itself nowadays

Is 6 strikers no a bit much?

Suppose Fletcher (S) and Clarkson are just in there to gain experience of training with the squad and cover in case of a spate of injuries.

Got to admit not all that sure about the team, not seen enough of Chris Iwelumo to comment but looks as if hes been on great form in the championship so deserves a call up, glad to see Clarkson and Fletcher in the striker options as well as i recon there not far off being first regulars in the first team.
Kris Commons again not seen much of him other than the Iceland game, would love to see Maloney and Morrison on the wings for us, think they would be great and support the strikers well.
Flethcer and either Thomson or Brown in the middle, Hartley shouldnt be in the team just cant stand him and dont rate him at all.
Defence looks ok but nothing special, think we will miss McManus but think Berra and Caldwell should partner in the middle, dont think Weir and Alexander should be in there far too old and we should be looking for players who by the time the next comp[s come round will to reaching their peaks and not collecting their free bus passes.
Full back not sure at all would like to see Mulgrew get a call up he deserves it after the form he been on in a poor Aberdeen run of form, right back we need Hutton back fit to play there as he is outstanding and one of the better Scottish players just now. Although i wouldnt complain if Darr was to play there although recon the likes of Mark Wilson of Celtic should be called up, hes playing Champions League footie, even just for a few more games but its more than Alexander will be playing.
Also goalkeepers think McGregor is top class but if hes not playing for Rangers should he be in the Scotland squad? And Marshall to be honest i knew he went to Norwich but didnt have a clue he was playing first team football there.
Overall not 100% over the team but still recon it will be good enough to beat Norway 2 nil.

I'd normally be shocked that McAllister, another from the Vogts era, is in the squad, but when you consider that Naysmith's been getting a game then it's not all bad - he can't possibly be any worse.

I'd rather it was Mulgrew though.

Very surprised McCormack isn't in the squad, he's been doing really well with Cardiff.

I'll add more later.

that is quite possibly the worst group of defenders we've ever had in a scotland squad

I don't have any real complaints about any players being left out of the squad, or the wrong players being called up.

McAllister seems to be doing very well in a team in the top half of the Championship. He might not be great, but we don't have any other real options at left-back. None of the others mentioned are good enough - Wallace is too small, Mulgrew isn't good enough defensively, and Easton has played OK for 7 games in the SPL. What's Burley supposed to do, pluck someone out of thin air?

The 3rd choice keeper doesn't bother me, because they aren't going to get anywhere near the team anyway. Combe would be too much of a disruptive influence because he allegedly doesn't get on with Jim Stewart. What's the point in creating that problem when he's not going to be involved.

The midfield isn't that strong, but I don't see who else would merit a call-up. Hartley has shown himself to be a decent player in the big games, and I don't think he'll start the Norway game anyway.

McCormack is the only one who I thought might have been in the squad, but I'm not sure who you would leave out from the current crop of attackers. He's probably more effective than Maloney, but Maloney has a bit more experience, and that might come in useful.

I think we'll line up:

----------------Gordon-------------------

Broadfoot---Caldwell---Weir------Naysmith

-------Fletcher--Brown---Robson---------

Morrison---------Miller-----------McFadden


I'd probably rather see Thomson in the middle in place of Robson, to add some more steel, but I reckon Burely will go for Robson.

Would like to know that as well. Especially when Burley has just said he is picking players on form.

How is it any less pointless having Combe in the squad than Marshall ?

I would have thought that since Marshall is a lot younger, you'd be better off having him in the squad.

What has happend to the boy McEaverly was never his biggest fan but at the minute I think he'd be the best option at left back.

One former Queen's player is good enough for me, how many former Stranraer?

He's on loan at Preston from Derby. He's also not very good.

Agreed. Most folk are going on about how bad the midfield is - it's not great but the pool of defenders is awful. Gary Caldwell is probably the best of them.....

He might not be very good, but he's still better than Naysmith.

Spot on for me.

Would have liked to see Wilson and McNaughton in the squad but Broadfoot will get my full support. Not sure I agree with a lot of the stick Naysmith gets from some people, I've always thought he was fairly solid for Scotland. Glad to see Iwelumo in the squad too.