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Auld_Reekie

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  1. 😀 It's an integral part of the Scottish psyche and a burden to be passed down from generation to generation.
  2. Absolutely phenomenal. Remember having to pinch myself mid way through second half that this was Scotland we were watching. The biggest improvement is our composure on the ball - lost count the number of times we played the ball out of trouble with quick, slick one touch passing and in most cases launched us into a blistering counter attack. I don't recall the Ukraine game as much as others (might have been the drink), but I genuinely don't remember watching Scotland put in a top-level performance like that since I started going to games around 1999. Sure, there's been good results in there, but the manner of that performance is unmatched IMO. Too many great performances to mention but for me, McGinn and Gilmour stand out for different reasons. By some distance McGinn was my man of the match - the guy is an absolute machine and while he normally provides the muscle and power in midfield, his distribution last night was outstanding. Anytime he broke out with the ball, we'd counter attack with purpose and pace or he'd pull off an inch perfect diagonal ball - on another day, Adams and Armstrong could have added another two goals thanks to McGinn's play. In a more fundamental way though, I don't think it's any coincidence that we seem to elevated our performances to another level since Gilmour started against England. Bizarre to think that the Euros were only 6 months ago, where IMO, we put in a couple of really flat, nervous performances against Czechs and Croatia. We now look like a completely different team because Gilmour dictates how we play. Coming short, showing for the ball, laying it off, keeping the ball moving, bringing every player into game, drawing opposition players in, creating space, releasing his teammates, the list goes on. There's been modest squad rotation since the summer, with supposedly second string players coming in, yet we look twice the team we did before. I think we've all long knew we needed a genuine ball player in midfield, a World Class talent that could help us take a step in the right direction, but I'm still shocked at seeing first hand how such a brilliant player can fundamentally change how the players around them perform. By getting Gilmour in this team, it genuinely feels like McGinn, McGregor, Robertson, Tierney, Cooper, Adams, every other player have become better players too. Recent games have also been a bit more special as have started taking my two boys to the games and they are absolutely obsessed. We missed the Israel game and was genuinely gutted I didnt get them along for them to sample what a big Hampden night is like. We went along last night and just hoped they would see us score one goal and be able to celebrate, never thinking we'd celebrate two and keep a clean sheet. Biggest problem now is trying to temper their expectations and help them understand it's not always like this! As I said above, been going to games steadily since 1999 and bar some brief spells with Smith and McLeish, it's been a shite 22 years. Really shite. Hope we can maintain this for a bit yet because I think we all deserve it.
  3. Picking a specific individual error from that first half completely ignores what an appalling 45 minutes it was from the entire starting XI and the coaching staff. I'm not really bothered about whether Gordon or Tierney were at fault as much as I'm pissed off that there was nothing, absolutely nothing, about us for the entire half. Tempo, aggression, composure - nothing. So far off the pace as to be embarrassing. And the reason Im pissed off is I know we can do it. Pre-Euro warmup games against Netherlands and Luxembourg showed we can play a fast press and looked fucking good in spells with the ball at our feet. But as soon as there's something on the line, we shite ourselves. For me, we should come out the blocks and absolutely run ourselves into the ground for 10 minutes. Dont give the opposition a second, give them a little kick, let them know they are in a game. And hopefully make them think twice. The opposite is happening in games - we look like bairns in front of the opposition and good teams assert themselves because we let them. I can handle losing a goal to a team that has earned it. But it's infuriating watching us roll over time and time again.
  4. I can handle not making major tournaments - until this year, spent the second half of my life not qualifying for any them. But I'd rather see us fail to qualify by being attacking team than a defensive team. Psychologically, we're weak and negative. Would rather pick a consistent, attacking template and trying to find players to make it work than being crippled constantly with fear of failure. We'll still lose some games, maybe one or two games pretty badly, but learning to be a confident, attacking team is a better foundation for success IMO.
  5. I like Clarke and I really want him to succeed but that first half performance is inexcusable. I'm willing to accept the players might not have executed but it's Clarke's job to get these decisions right before the game starts. Robertson out of position and a back three of Cooper, Hanley and McKenna just screams danger. Tierney had a particularly poor first half - that's half our outfield team right there strung along the back, and there's barely a solid ball player among the central three. How exactly are we going to get our midfield into the game with such limited out ball from the back? Absolutely atrocious. Gordon too looked like he had two left feet at times. You can't build a football team with that as your core. Where exactly was the ball going to go when we started from the back? We aimlessly sent it long but didn't have someone up front who could hold the ball up and bring the midfield into the game. We started that player on the bench. The lack of joined up thinking and ambition is utterly infuriating. A Scottish mentality. And while some of our games under Clarke have followed a similar pattern, there have been signs of a very good team. Almost all of those games though were when we setup positively and played with intent and pace. I really don't understand what more evidence he needs. Sure, Denmark probably took their foot off the gas in the second half, but there's no doubting we also moved the ball quicker, found more space, created chances, etc. All because we traded a centre-half for a striker and set up to be more attacking. But again, too little, too late. Lessons not learned. Still behind Clarke 100% but it's becoming harder and harder to tolerate. On the others: McLean did nothing for me - really missed the aggression from McGinn or the quiet composure of McTominay. Gilmour was poor in first half and must have thought he was back at Norwich already - entire team around him drowning and he's trying desperately to keep his head above water, but came into his own second half when the team around him lifted. Still lot to learn but I've no problem giving him all the game time he needs. McGregor OK, Fraser and Adams average but not given a lot to work with. On the Gilmour point of letting him have all the game time he needs, I'd be doing the same with Hendry. This campaign is probably fucked so I'd rather see us blood the younger boys now for the next campaign. Patterson is another.
  6. 100% should. Absolutely disgusting scenes at and away from the stadium. 5 mile radius lockdown for bars and restaurants after the match. Grim.
  7. Going to stick my neck out and admit I don't have any problem with Sterling. I think he's a phenomenal player and his whole back story is fascinating. Ton of respect and the one English player I think is World Class. England generally though are meh. Kane is over-rated, McGuire and Stone are average, and most other players are uninspiring but solid. The obsession with Grealish especially is bizarre - I've seen nothing to justify anywhere near the hype around him. As a unit, England are OK - fit and well-drilled, hard to beat, but some way off the top tier sides IMO. A good draw and associated results have definitely played their part. For the most part though, they perform when it mostly matters and rarely slip up when they shouldn't - the inverse of Scotland unfortunately. In terms of the penalty decision and VAR, was quite clearly never a penalty and VAR process/officials seem determined to fatally undermine it as an officiating tool. What is the point of the entire process if it cannot overturn a key decision, at a key moment, in a key game? Generally thought it had been used much more efficiently at EURO 2020 than we've seen in the Premiership, but playing complicit in such a big error seems to negate the other minor benefits. I actually thought the Kane incident in the first half was a penalty so it sort of balances out but that's not the point. After about 30/40 minutes, Denmark looked knackered which was a shame. Early on, they looked very impressive going forward and far superior to England but the energy levels faded very quickly and the writing was on the wall when the early substitutions were required. Lot to fear in September although the more important game is Austria. Here's hoping England get pumped good and proper on Sunday. Like Southgate a lot but the media and general hype is utterly nauseating. An England win is surely worth 10% or so to Yes though. Decisions, decisions...
  8. MI5 mate. They recognise that Billy Gilmour is a clear and present danger to UK sovereignty. Was quite clear he was about to lead us through the group stages and be instrumental in Scotland winning EURO2020 - an event that finally breaks the shackles of decades, almost centuries, of colonial rule from Westminster and a decisive independence referendum on 18th September 2021 is won. Got MI5 written all over it and I suspect Chilwell is the security services' inside man. Bastards.
  9. Whit?! Am I missing something? You're going to move Robertson into Centre Midfield?! It wasn't so long ago folk we're lamenting that Robertson couldn't replicate his Liverpool form for Scotland and even questioned whether he should be dropped in favour of Tierney. IMO, Robertson has been one of our main attacking threats in both our games and has justified his pick as captain and the left wingback. Simultaneously, Tierney has shown what he brings to the back three and an attacking drive through the left/centre of the park. I think solving the Robertson/Tierney problem has been one of Clarke's big successes and no way should he consider tinkering with it. If we're being honest, Robertson's key skills are his pace, overlapping runs and crossing. Without being critical, throwing him in the centre of the park and asking him to control the game is a disaster waiting to happen. If anything, Tierney is far better suited to moving into centre but given we have good cover for central midfield anyway, Gilmour dropping out should have minimal impact. IMO, left side is sorted, back three is sorted, centre midfield is easily sorted. Legitimate criticisms aside, Dykes and Adams did enough to convince me strikers are sorted. The only open question is how we create a similar threat down the right as we have down the left.
  10. Gilmour was, as expected, excellent but I thought McGregor and McGinn were key. McGregor brought much needed composure to midfield and helped as retain possession when we most needed it. Still can't work out if McGinn's booking helped or hindered him - he was treading a very thin line and felt he was risking free-kicks in dangerous places. Thought the booking forced him to calm down a bit though and along with Gilmour and McGregor, were instrumental in controlling the game. We said it before and it seems even more obvious now - midfield is where we are strongest and I think that's why last Monday was especially disappointing as we appeared to miss them out entirely for 45 minutes and by the time we got the midfield involved, the tone of the game was set. A lot of criticism last week of O'Donnell was OTT but more a reflection of frustration at a poor result, disappointing performance (IMO) and his inclusion as a wingback screamed negativity to me. It didn't help he clearly got off to a nervy start. His strength is his defensive ability which was shown in his performance against England, but I think we really need to see someone more attacking in that right wingback role in games where we're favouring attack over defence. Have no problem with O'Donnell slotting back into the back 3 when we're opting for something more attacking. Overall though, thought everyone was excellent and should be the core of our team going forward. But think Clarke has some work to do getting our tactics exactly right in games against teams around our level.
  11. Big blow but some folk need to get a serious grip on reality. He's Billy Gilmour, no Lionel Messi. Give the rest of the squad at least some credit and let's not place unrealistic pressure on Gilmour. Boy has played one game and folk are already losing their shit because he's missing his second game. No doubting the boy has huge promise but the other players will need to step up - just like they'd have to do even with Gilmour in the team. For me, I'd drop O'Donnell into the back 3, move McTominay into Gilmour's space and play someone more attacking in the right wing-back role. Gilmour being out doesn't change things for me that much. He'd have brought serious class to the midfield but the overall tactics barely change. If McTominay (or Armstrong) can impose themselves in midfield I think we'll be good. Care more about tactics than I do about any one player right now.
  12. Grim. Really grim. Possession and shots stats might suggest otherwise, but thought we were poor. Czechs could quite easily have scored 3 or 4. Lack of energy, movement, pace. Everything that was good about the warm up games was missing. For all of our options in midfield, felt they were MIA for most of first half. McGinn tried to take control second half but was fighting a losing battle. Game passed McTominay by. Armstrong ran about a lot. O'Donnell just not good enough. Not going to blame Hendry, other than it showed a lack of experience. Marshall's positioning looked more culpable. Might have still scored though had they continued the counter attack. Really like Dykes and what he brings to the team but it's becoming harder to justify his inclusion if he can't convert. All in all, we looked like rabbits caught in the headlights. Occasion was too much for us. Hugely disappointing. Friday could be grim. Almost our whole tournament was built upon today's game. Clarke got a job on his hands correctly the mistakes of today and trying to get something from that game.
  13. SNP have got this absolutely right IMO. They should ask and hope it's refused. Every time Westminster stamp their authority on Scotland, the Yes vote goes up. Unless Yes vote shoots up to 60% in the next 3 months, we ideally want 2021 election to be fought on question of #indyref2. Also expect the SNP to challenge Westminster refusal in courts next year in hope that Holyrood election will be to ask electorate to have a legal referendum. SNP polled 45% last night. Sure there are Labour/LibDem voters supporting independence but I know a significant number of people voted SNP last night even though they didn't necessarily want another referendum. As I said above, unless Yes suddenly jumps up above 60%, we'd be taking a massive gamble going early next year.
  14. A great result for SNP - really did fear it as going to be a pretty poor night. Overall, I'm also happy there's going to be a resolution to brexit. Was blatantly obvious England wanted it done and another hung parliament or a Labour government would have dragged this bullshit on for years but with an eventual brexit anyway. I'm not happy about it but at the same time, people need to see the consequences of their political decisions - for good and bad. From the politicians all the way through to the media, brexit has been an utter disgrace and people have been accepting of the lies and the bullshit. This is a democracy and the electorate have to take responsibility for, and accept consequences of, their political decisions. Been clear for some time England intend to see this all the way to the bitter end before they'll maybe realise how they've been played. Doesn't have to be this way in Scotland and campaign for another indyref will no doubt gather pace especially once brexit is triggered in a few months. Still choppy waters ahead - Salmond trial next year and if we need to go into 2021 election, SNP have a pretty tough job on their hands given the public perception of devolved Education and Health briefs. If Tories had any sense, they'd support a snap indyref because I genuinely think it would be very tight if held soon. However, they refuse indyref all the way through to 2021 and it makes that election easier for SNP who will make it into a referendum debate. The longer Tories/Scottish Labour refuse a referendum the better it is for Yes IMO. The Wings mob want it tomorrow and that's a mistake. The target should still be getting Yes into the 60s and that's still some way away if you ask me.
  15. Totally agree. I don't gave much sympathy regarding EU referendum. Maybe after this people won't take politics for granted. And its worth remembering that any underhand backtracking here is likely to be attempted after a successful #indyref. Its in interests of Yes we don't hand Unionists an out when they need it most.
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