Tartacus

Very good kit. The badge looks great on a plain top. Will there be a new away kit? They may as well go mad on that after the pink. How about luminous Bay City shortbread tin strip?

Central defenders often do develop later. Many play their best football in their 30's if they keep injury free. Colin Hendry was a late developer?

I've seen a fair bit of Cooper at Leeds. He is up and down. Had some horrible moments and some really good games. I think he is 24 so time to mature. He can hit superb long balls with his left foot but occasionally drives them straight to an opponent. Quite tough and occasionally rash. He has potential but I'd be nervous if he was playing v Slovakia and Slovenia (although no more nervous than our other centre halves). The good thing at the moment is he is in the Leeds team every week (thanks to Bartely leaving and injuries to others). Leeds have kept 5 clean sheets running in the championship so his confidence will be good. wrong thread. sorry.

Sad news. I joined some years ago and the amount of superb people I have had advice and help form via TAMB is incredible. I organised quite a few trips to Hampden (which always included some cultural aspects and lots of drinking) for my Dad and mates and could not have done it very well without help from people on here. I received a brilliant cd of Scottish music from one TAMBer. Came up to Scotland on my own for the Italy game 2007 and organised my accomodation and meet ups with TAMB help. I even managed to set up a fledgling Yorkshire Tartan Army through TAMB. Thanks to all the TAMB organisers and members for lots of good arguments and humour.

I don't see how Snodgrass can keep his place now. Seems slow and unable to beat a man and even his set pieces now miss their intended targets most of the time.

Griffiths to Leeds is a rumour down here.

I like the touch of red. There should also be a dirk in the socks to deal with awkward opponents.

Keep the traditional round badge and keep it large. Simple white collar and cuffs. Real dark blue shirt (I don't mind some subtle tartan under the arms). White shorts and red turnovers on the dark blue socks.

True. I will try and find some more programmes from youth games I have attended and post them up here.

Just found the programme from this match. Friday 8th Decemebr 2006 at York City. England won 2-1. England squad; Declan Rudd. Wesley Fodderingham. Adam Smith. Chris Solly. Thomas Cruise. Jack Rodwell. David Brown. Nicky Ajose. Oliver Norwood. Mitchell McPike. Harry Forrester. John Bostok. Dean Parrett. Ryan Mason. Sean Highdale. Sanchez Watt. James Ellison. Nathan Delfouneso. Scotland squad; James Wood. Grant Adam. Stephen Forbes. Scott Durie. Daniel Wilson. David McAuliffe. John Fleck. Daniel Thomson. Jamie Ness. Gordon Smith. Alex Cooper. Gregg Wylde. Michael O'Halloran. Archie Campbell. Sean Fitzharis. Robert McHugh. David Love. Ryan Martin. Goals - Nicky Ajose and Nathan Delfouneso for England and Robert McHugh for Scotland.

I'd go with a starting line up of; Gordon Tierney Martin Mulgrew Robertson D Fletcher Fraser Armstrong Brown Anya Griffiths I can't see S Fletcher, Rhodes, or C Martin worrying England's defence too much but Griffiths is faster and his movement may make a difference. Anya is quick and will track back, Fraser is a good enthusiastic team player and is on form. Armstrong will be in for his all round game and energy. Brown wouldn't last 90 mins but can get stuck in and he is clever enough to attack when we have the ball (he may also wind up some of the cocky England midfielders). D Fletcher in for some calmness and experience (and to draw the referee's attention when Rose, Vardy, Lalanna, Ali and Sterling are performing their diving routines).

Karanka and Strachan haven't had faith Rhodes can be the main striker. Rhodes offers little to a team other than being a goal poacher. He has an impressive track record at championship level but is the sort of player who if he doesn't score then offers little. He doesn't harry or bully defenders like Joe Jordan. He doesn't whizz about like Kenny Miller. Strachan would have to be sure that the rest of the Scotland team would be energetic enough and have enough of the ball in attacking areas to play Rhodes. It's possible versus England Rhodes wouldn't touch the ball. There again he might latch on to two good crosses and score with his only two touches. Who knows? That's football.

I used to watch Snodgrass a few years back at Leeds. His best position IMO was right wing (though he was confident and talented enough to come inside). He often beat men with skill and often cut back to get on his left foot to score. He was never fast but he charged up and down the wing enthusiastically. As the years have gone on he seems to do less dribbling and slicing through a defence and relies on a more sedate 'playmaker' role. I'm not sure he is good enough for Scotland to be a key playmaker in the sense I don't see him running a game and dictating how the team play. He can whip in brilliant balls but Scotland don't have top class centre forward who gets on the end of these deliveries. I'm not sure I would play him v Slovenia. I think he is quite predictable central and the opposition seem to stifle him quite well. if I did play him I'd put him wide right (though I'd be worried he wouldn't track back to help our emergency right back). So maybe have him wide left as Tierney/Wallace/Robertson have the energy to cope better if he can't whizz about. Hope he proves me wrong if he does play.

I can see why managers think Rhodes isn't worth playing (unless you are sure your team will be on top and getting lots of balls into the box) BUT do any of our other strikers effectively hold the ball up? Do any of them contribute so much more that it is better to play them rather than a 'goal hanger'. If Rhodes barely touches the ball but scores then isn't he contributing more than our current strikers who simply cannot put the ball into the net? Griffiths being the latest to fluff half chances v Engalnd.

How about trying Bridcutt as defensive midfielder? He rarely comes into the opposition half for Leeds but makes a lot of tackles and usually passes it well. Sitting Fletcher/Brown/Morrison/MacArthur etc deeper may be counter productive (do they fully commit to attacks?). I think it is vital we protect our chocolate defence but would a specialist be better rather than a good all rounder trying to play box to box. Could we get more in terms of goals from our other midfielders if they knew there was bespoke defensive midfielder behind them?

McCormack training with the youth team at Villa and called unfit. Strachan vindicated on not calling him up last time?

Well said Pam!

On this day 1942 Scotland and Leeds United legend Billy Bremner was born.

There are legitimate criticisms that can be made of Strachan but not capping Liam Cooper isn't one of them. Cooper may improve enough to make the squad at some point but not now IMO.

He isn't a nailed on first team starter.

This is Bill Harper. 1920's and 1930's goalkeeper. 11 Scotland caps. Played for Hibs, Arsenal and eventually Plymouth Argyle via a spell in America. My Grandad's cousin.

I think this is a very good post. I'm born and lived in England all my life (save a few weeks in the mid 70's) to an English Mum (who had Scottish grandparents) and a Scottish Dad. I also had a German Grandad. I've passionately supported Scotland all my life. It's hard for me to try and make a claim but I really feel had I been a professional player I would have run my heart out for Scotland. I would have turned England and Germany down and waited for the call from Scotland. I couldn't have represented any other team as my heart wouldn't have been in it. I had the Scotland strip as a kid and proudly wore it. My lad Ewan is 12 and supported Scotland in the recent game. I don't push him but he is well aware of my passion for Scotland and his links to Scotland. He wears a Scotland keeper top to his local team training. Some real Scottish folk probably laugh at this or get annoyed but I don't care. And as FIFA and the SFA don't have a problem with my eligibility I have made myself available for Strachan's next squad. OK, I'm 47 with a glass knee but I never give up hope. Nationality isn't as clear cut as some would assert. Terry Butcher was born in Singapore but was an archetypal England lion as a player. Denis Law said he became 'more' Scottish after moving abroad. Duncan Ferguson is more Scottish than Jordan Rhodes but Rhodes has a better attitude towards the national team. I think if someone is eligible through family or living in Scotland and they really want to play for Scotland it shouldn't be a problem.

I agree. Pulis cited Phillips lacking confidence and consistency but he may improve over the next few months. Adam starting to get games for Stoke. I can't wait til Strachan picks Bardsley and folk start moaning about non Scots being brought in. Strachan is damned both ways on that. Like Strachan said recently, by next year 2 or 3 players who didn't make recent squads may be playing regularly at club level and be brought in. And maybe a youngster may be ready to make a real difference like Burke or Gauld?

UNITED COMPLETE DEAL FOR MCKAY BROTHERS Share this story inShare1 Twin brothers make the switch from Doncaster Rovers... We are delighted to confirm the double signing of twin brothers Jack and Paul McKay from Doncaster Rovers for undisclosed fees. The Glasgow-born pair, who are 19, have penned two-and-a-half-year deals at Elland Road and are initially expected to gain game time with the Under-21s while training with the first-team squad. Jack is a striker who collected Doncaster’s Academy Player of the Year award in 2013, while twin brother Paul is a promising central defender who signed professional terms in 2014. Both players had tastes of first-team football during their time at Doncaster, with Jack making his senior debut away to Sheffield United in November 2014 and Paul making his bow against Burton Albion in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy last season. Jack told leedsunited.com: “It’s a massive club. As soon as I found out that Leeds wanted to bring us me here, I said ‘yes’ straight away. “We were both told this morning that Leeds had come in for us and we were buzzing to hear it. “I know there’s competition here with the young strikers, but that doesn’t really matter to me. I know that if I’m not the best then I won’t play. I have to be at my best. “I’ve played with my brother for a long time and we know each other’s game well. “It works especially well with him being at the back and me being up front. I can make runs and I don’t even have to call for the ball from him. He knows how I play and I know how to make runs for him. He knows where I’ll be. “I’m a striker who works hard and does a lot of running. I love going in behind the defence to score goals. This is a great opportunity for me and one which I hope to take.” Paul added: “It’s a massive club and I’m delighted to have signed up. “You look at the young players here recently – Sam Byram, Lewis Cook, Alex Mowatt – they’ve all broken into the first team and have become regular players. “There’s definitely a pathway here for a young players like myself and my brother to kick on. “To start with I think we will get games in the Under-21s and train with the first team when we can and then take it from there. “It’s good having someone else in the family doing the same thing as you. It can help ease you into a new club." 03 DEC 2016 ASTON VILLA ELLAND ROAD BUY TICKETSBUY HOSPITALITYBETTING 10DAYS 07HOURS 34MINUTES