g@un Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 Just a quick one, and I know that most folks are deflated after last night. But why have we not arranged a friendly for next week? Surely these are the opportunities to experiment with other players / systems? Give us a bit of hope and stop us pondering over last night's events? There are other players who are on the fringes that could have made up the friendly squad. Armstrong, Cairney, Shinnie, Fraser, Gauld, Souttar, Anderson, Douglas, McKay, to name but a few. Perhaps a game against a nation around our level at an Easter Road, Tynecastle or Pittodrie? We now go into the winter period with nothing but defeat and a want for wholesale change. SFA need to sort out priorities as some of us do want to remain positive and believe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KirkieRobRoy Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 Perhaps because no one but a few drunks fresh off the train from Wemberlee in urine-stained kilts would go. Because most of the squad would cry off injured or 'retire from international duty'. Because Strachan is still in charge and he wouldn't pick Armstrong, Cairney, Shinnie, Fraser, Gauld, Souttar, Anderson, Douglas or McKay. Because supporting the team in competitive matches is bad enough these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g@un Posted November 12, 2016 Author Share Posted November 12, 2016 Fair point. A home tie against a Macedonia or Serbia in preparation for the game against Slovenia next year would have been handy. Too easy to get down about things, at least the fringe players would be hungry to impress! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonny78 Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 We want as few scotland games as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macy37 Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 Gauld on the fringes. He's hardly on the fringes. Is he even playing for his current team? Forget him, he's ending up like Fleck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g@un Posted November 12, 2016 Author Share Posted November 12, 2016 There's still time for Gauld. Apparently back playing now. Got to try and knit some sort of unit together, there's still points to play for and 2nd place to go for next year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudScot Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 Because the SFA use the Scotland national team as a money making exercise and nobody would attend a friendly next week. It goes without saying that a friendly to try new players and a new system is clearly a good idea. It also goes without saying that our very poor manager would fail to do that if given the opportunity anyway, as he has done time and time again over the last few years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rude Gullit Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Good topic. I asked the same question this time last year when we passed up the chance for November friendlies too. Friendlies might not turn us into Barca, but we're certainly not going to improve by just doing nothing. Very bleak situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radian Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Strachan would prob say it's because "the players spend long enough away from their families" and "you know they don't get paid to come along here".....so they shouldn't, the situation is a disgrace!!! Friendlies should be used to try new tactics and see if people on the fringes are able to make the step up to international football, not playing friendlies is ridiculous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironbrew Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Guessing there`s no friendly this midweek because SFA thought there was a chance of a managerial change after Friday and because they reckoned a match would mean losing money. N Ireland are playing Croatia who will have demanded a good fee i suppose but with current success a good crowd and TV fee can be guaranteed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kumnio Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Playing friendlies to try out new players, tactics, formations etc clearly isnt needed, the SFA and Strachan must believe we are on the right track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanderark14 Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 18 minutes ago, kumnio said: Playing friendlies to try out new players, tactics, formations etc clearly isnt needed, the SFA and Strachan must believe we are on the right track. Strachan said he isn't a fan of friendlies. I doubt he even remembers saying it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Laud Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Nobody would want to play us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonny78 Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 6 hours ago, vanderark14 said: Strachan said he isn't a fan of friendlies. I doubt he even remembers saying it No one is a fan of friendlies with this team. Fewer games the better. Watch us struggle at home v malta you mark my words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarky1606 Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 1) no-one will want to play us 2) we have played 4 friendlies already this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoonTheSlope Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 Away to Northern Ireland and Estonia next year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderer Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 (edited) 1 hour ago, clarky1606 said: 1) no-one will want to play us 2) we have played 4 friendlies already this year Been a few murmurs about possible games in foreign press releases over the last few months, but nothing that has made any news here (seem to recall Croatia or Romania wanted a game with us a few months ago). I suspect Strachan (and the SFA) knew we would get beat at Wembley and just decided it was best to sweep everything under the carpet, than have another 3/4 days of media talk around the England game while trying to get ready for a friendly. TBH I felt there should have been a low key home friendly this week, which if anything, could have gave us a slight boost going into the years end, rather than drag on about the England result until March. Edited November 14, 2016 by wanderer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarky1606 Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 10 minutes ago, wanderer said: Been a few murmurs about possible games in foreign press releases over the last few months, but nothing that has made any news here (seem to recall Croatia or Romania wanted a game with us a few months ago). I suspect Strachan (and the SFA) knew we would get beat at Wembley and just decided it was best to sweep everything under the carpet, than have another 3/4 days of media talk around the England game while trying to get ready for a friendly. TBH I felt there should have been a low key home friendly this week, which if anything, could have gave us a slight boost going into the years end, rather than drag on about the England result until March. I half expected a home game this week as well but delighted we aint playing. We are utter garbage and the fans don't deserve to be subjected to that level of sh!t any more. Strachan will be delighted also as he's off for a break in the Algarve whilst we all go back to our day jobs. There really is no justice in this world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderer Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 2 minutes ago, clarky1606 said: I half expected a home game this week as well but delighted we aint playing. We are utter garbage and the fans don't deserve to be subjected to that level of sh!t any more. Strachan will be delighted also as he's off for a break in the Algarve whilst we all go back to our day jobs. There really is no justice in this world. If we were this week it would be a absolute disaster. Given how much over kill 2016 has been with away friendlies, if we had it would almost certainly have been at home, which would have meant the press grilling Strachan and the team non-stop for 3/4 extra days on Wembley and no focus on a game whatsoever (which would probably be a record low attendance or something). Basically rather than have hope for Wembley, they chucked the towel in months ago and rather put their heads in the sand about Wembley by running off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudScot Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 4 hours ago, wanderer said: If we were this week it would be a absolute disaster. Given how much over kill 2016 has been with away friendlies, if we had it would almost certainly have been at home, which would have meant the press grilling Strachan and the team non-stop for 3/4 extra days on Wembley and no focus on a game whatsoever (which would probably be a record low attendance or something). Basically rather than have hope for Wembley, they chucked the towel in months ago and rather put their heads in the sand about Wembley by running off. Who gives a toss about attendance it's about improving the side which you can only do by playing (new players in a new system). The SFA do and that's it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flure Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 Macedonian Football @MacedonianFooty Macedonia was supposed to play a friendly tomorrow, but no opponent (Turkey, Scotland & Norway declined) could be found. So, no friendly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottincarlisle Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 (edited) 19 minutes ago, ProudScot said: Who gives a toss about attendance it's about improving the side which you can only do by playing (new players in a new system). The SFA do and that's it. We've played 4 friendlies this year & its hardly improved us. Edited November 14, 2016 by scottincarlisle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
girvanTA Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 We haven't tried anything different in the friendlies. Gordon Greer (no harm to him) for instance isn't going to improve us in the next 2/3 years so why call him up for Italy and France? Why let's say not start with Kingsley and Anderson or use Stephen Hendrie, Tom Carney and Rhodes from Blackburn and let them put themselves in the shop window for us? We keep pissing in the wind and expecting something different Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shed_Tartan_Army_Yeah Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Damage limitation possibly? The possible positives of winning are not worth the backlash of another possible defeat or poor performance at this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudScot Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 18 hours ago, scottincarlisle said: We've played 4 friendlies this year & its hardly improved us. Yes you're correct because of not doing what was bracketed and what is the #1 purpose of friendlies for all other international sides (playing new players and trying new systems) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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