AndyDD

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Two strikes me as a pretty small difference, rather than being 'not similar at all'. Shankland will replace Nisbet, but if he decides to replace, say, Turnbull and Fleck, with extra defenders, the difference is hardly seismic.

Given that we took four wingbacks, Tierney, five centre backs and mctominay to the last one, I really don't see how it is, especially when you factor in the potential to give hickey extra cover. It is similar to the last euros squad.

It'll depend on what, if anything, Clarke wants to do differently from the last time. That he didn't use two defenders doesn't necessarily mean he thinks it was a mistake to take them. He regularly brings players to squads without giving them gametime. What they bring to the group and what he wants to do training wise will factor into his selection, along with how many differences he wants to make to how he fills his squad compared to last time, or if he felt that was more or les bang on. He could depart significantly from the way he made up his squad last time, but he rarely seems to make significant departures. I'd expect it to be similar vis a vis number of defensive options, and 1 or 2 players either way is not a significant departure. Him going for extras this time as added cover given the circumstances around right back and Grant Hanley is plausible. I certainly don't think he'll take less than 10. He might, but that would be a departure from the norm. Three right backs (Hickey and two covers), Tierney, two left backs (Robertson and one other) and six centre backs takes you to twelve without it being especially outrageous or ludicrous. If he ends up taking Porteous, Hanley, Hendry, McKenna, Cooper and Souttar I don't imagine anyone stands back in astonishment, especially since there will be fitness doubts over Hanley and the fact that he seems to greatly value Cooper. One of those not making it is entirely possible, especially since Tierney is going to be playing but again, I'm not sure what forward or midfielder gets the space opened up by dropping one or more of those listed players. He might decide just to take two right backs, he might decide to use Tierney and Hickey as his back up leftbacks and not have any at all on the bench, but the defensive make up of the squad is unlikely to be far off that. 10 defenders plus McTominay last time , I don't see what's ludicrous or especially mental about suggesting he might take 11 plus an extra right back this time, all things considered.

Yeah I'm sure that's exactly why he took 4 goalkeepers. 10 the last euros plus McTominay, so clearly 12 defenders isn't some strange suggestion, nor would it be a significant departure from the last time. I think given that Hickey will be going in the circumstances that he is, additional cover at right back makes sense, and taking an extra actual right back over a centre mid like Jack who can cover there in a pinch is probably a better shout. The extra spaces available could go to fringe midfielders or forwards, but I think it's marginally more likely he'll use them to add one (or two if we aren't counting McTominay) defender compared to last time to allow for cover at right-back and centre back.

Yeah, I'm working on the assumption that it will be 26. Okay, you don't need another left back, but I think it makes logical sense to have a direct replacement that could go into left back should Robertson need to be subbed off at any point, whilst also allowing yourself to keep your defence otherwise unchanged, as opposed to having to add a new CB to push Tierney out to left-back, or another right back to allow you to switch Hickey over, or changing formation. You might want to keep everything else as is, and taking another left back in the squad means you can if you like. Hickey is presumably more likely than in normal circumstances to pull up during a game, or need replacing during a game, so having extra cover for that position seems sensible to me.

We had 11 defenders in the last squad, out of 25, for 2 games. 26 spaces to fill for the euros squad, and I doubt we're going top heavy with strikers. McGinn, McTominay, McGregor, Gilmour, McLean, Christie, Armstrong, Fraser or maybe Brown, Adams, Dykes, Shankland. I'm not sure who, if anyone, goes along on top of those names as additional midfielders or strikers, meaning the rest is going to be defenders and goalies.

With Tierney in the squad, you really only need Robertson and A N Other left back. Doig seems the sensible choice there ahead of Taylor, on the basis that he looks to be playing a decent number of games in Serie A and at 21 is more likely to feature in euro and world cup campaigns of the future so, if taking someone to be the spare, may as well go with the future. Taylor is probably who Clarke will opt for, though, I know. Right back is trickier, because whilst Hickey will have had 8 months or so of training, it will be a gradual build up of training and he won't have played in so long, meaning I think you want to bring 2 other options there to cover. Assuming for the moment Patterson doesn't make it back in time, McCrorie and Ralston the other two? I'm operating admittedly on the assumption that we go with 6 CBs, Tierney, 2 LBs, 3 RBs(including Hickey). Could drop a CB for a 3rd LB. Could drop a CM for 3rd LB, instead, if you wanted to (I'm expecting we take 5 centre mids though, rather than 6).

Airdrieonians 2-1 Dundee United Arbroath 0-1 QP Dunfermline 1-1 ICT Morton 0-2 Raith Partick Thistle 2-0 Ayr

Admittedly I've not put much thought into the issue and I also accept that it's wildly, ridiculously unlikely to ever happen, but I'd be for a top 2 promoted, bottom 2 relegated scenario, with a home and away playoff between 3rd bottom and 3rd top.

ICT 1-1 Raith Arbroath 1-1 Morton Dundee United 3-0 Ayr Dunfermline 1-0 Queen's Park Partick 1-2 Airdrie

Morton 1-3 Dundee Utd Airdrie 1-0 Dunfermline Ayr 2-0 Arbroath QP 1-0 ICT Raith 2-2 Partick

If they'd just delayed kickoff against rangers until later on that same day (assuming the Dundee official who said it would be fine to play later that afternoon was right) then it wouldnae really matter, would it? They'd be able to play this game in the coming week if Dens isn't playable on Saturday. Of course, we just had a midweek there during which the Dundee v rangers fixture could have easily been played, too. That would have also taken the pressure off any potential rescheduling of this fixture.

Airdrie 2-0 Morton Dunfermline 2-2 Partick ICT 0-0 Arbroath QP 0-2 Dundee Utd Raith 1-1 Ayr

Replicate the first half from Friday and we'll create enough chances to be a few goals up by the break; Northern Ireland won't be able to live with that. Then we can start giving some minutes to other squad members if we like. On that basis, minimal changes to the starting line-up, try and be more clinical than Friday (even though the number of chances created ought to be a lot higher), get them sworded relatively early and use the squad accordingly for the second half/last half hour.

Ayr 0-2 Airdrie Arbroath 1-1 Dunfermline Dundee United 1-1 Raith Rovers Morton 0-1 Queen's Park Partick Thistle 3-1 ICT

Arbroath 1-3 Partick Thistle Ayr 1-1 Queen's Park Dundee United 3-0 ICT Morton 1-1 Dunfermline

Dunfermline 0-2 Dundee Utd Airdrie 5-0 Arbroath ICT 1-0 Ayr Partick Thistle 1-1 Morton Queens Park 1-1 Raith Rovers

Yeah, Clarke seems to really value him as a squad member and I think you're probably right, a lot of that will be down to his leadership and his standing in the dressing room, good point. He didn't have a great game versus Czechia in the last euros, but he is usually steady enough for us when asked to do a job. Came off the bench as part of the switch-up that ultimately wins us the game in Olso, too. Deserves a spot for that alone.

I suppose he might, yeah, that's possible, but I think he'd have an extra centre half ahead of Jack. I think Cooper will ultimately end up on the plane if he's not injured.

Yeah, I think this is more or less stuck on, presuming both recover in time. Only question would be which centre half drops out along with Kelly, Ralston and Taylor. Souttar and Cooper looking the most likely candidates at this stage. Wonder if that increases the chances of both getting game time in this window, to help Clarke firm up his decision. He's probably fairly certain already.

Away one is nice enough, but very lazy considering it's almost identical to the away top we just had. Was hoping the home shirt would look better with a look at the entire thing; alas, no. It actually looks worse. Dugs dinner. Just have to stick to the hunner odd other tops for Germany. Hey ho.

Assuming it's really that, and it probably is, bit of a mess with the multiple stupit wee patterns. Might have been best to pick one rather than fling them all on it. Hopefully the away kit is better. It's obviously going to become beloved as the top in which we first got out a group ,so I'll probably buy it then. Just before it becomes a bona fide classic as the top in which we win the trophy, too.

Dundee United 2-0 Arbroath ICT 0-2 Airdrie Queen's Park 1-1 Partick Thistle Raith Rovers 2-0 Dunfermline

Arbroath 0-2 Raith Rovers Airdrie 3-0 Queen's Park Dunfermline 1-1 Ayr Morton 1-0 ICT Partick Thistle 1-3 Dundee United