Last 4 matches

[bonny78]

Win every 1-0 every game and we win world cup.

[er yir macaroon]

25 minutes ago, bonny78 said:

Win every 1-0 every game and we win world cup.

That would really shake them up...

[irish]

8 hours ago, weekevie04 said:

Win the first two and then start worrying about goal difference.

It is Scotland and IT IS Lithuania, away!

I want to see us as clinical as the Irish seem to be in away games - they play Georgia next and we struggled twice there whilst Ireland have won all their games away.

If we can do that, we will be in with a great shout and it'll be near enough in our hands with two huge games against Slovakia and Slovenia - considering England hopefully beat all the rest. 

 

I wouldn't call us clinical tbh. We may have a 100% record 8/8 against Georgia but almost all those games were right battles won by a goal in a lit of cases.

They're bound to get some joy against us and I think another away to them in that sticky early September heat will see us drop points. Was very hot out there the last time.

Apart from Scotland playing poorly in that 2015 match, do you think the humid conditions had some effect on the Scottish players that night?

Edited June 22, 2017 by irish

[weekevie04]

14 hours ago, irish said:

I wouldn't call us clinical tbh. We may have a 100% record 8/8 against Georgia but almost all those games were right battles won by a goal in a lit of cases.

They're bound to get some joy against us and I think another away to them in that sticky early September heat will see us drop points. Was very hot out there the last time.

Apart from Scotland playing poorly in that 2015 match, do you think the humid conditions had some effect on the Scottish players that night?

We just weren't at the races in both games. A mixture of everything really, and we seem to have the small-town mentality of over-achieving against bigger nations (or at least giving a lot more of a performance) when we are being doubted or playing against higher ranked/traditionally huge teams and struggle against the smaller ones. It's happened a bit in this group : beat Malta 5-1 (but  were very fortunate at times to win so clearly), Lithuania 1-1, Slovakia 3-0 pumping and not even close, England - likewise. So we're all written off and come back with a pretty good performance in the next two games against England and Slovenia. We struggle away though, but if you can't beat Lithuania, then we probably shouldn't even be thinking of Russia or even Playoffs.

One of the things I admire about the Irish side is you don't seem to have that issue and go out there and win those difficult games. Even that Austria game last week - in the end you were unfortunate to not get the 3pts and a terrible decision from the ref for the disallowed goal. 

Good luck with the rest of the campaign! Your group is tighter than the proverbial duck's .... but certainly looks achievable to get to Russia. I'll not predict any wins or further points as I wouldn't want to jinx you before you go back to Tblisi - but in the past, you have been very very good against Georgia

Edited June 23, 2017 by weekevie04

[Que Sera Sera]

On 22/06/2017 at 11:21 AM, weekevie04 said:

Exactly.

I could have worded that better, but I agree, I meant let's not even bother about the goal difference or what may happen with the other sides - just win the first two games, and then if that happens - start dreaming a wee bit, and win the next two after that. 

Before it all comes crashing down in that final Slovene game. 

Although we seem to be doing things in reverse rather than the norm - good start, fade out - so hopefully we are following Ireland's path to Euro 2016 - weak start, strong finish.

1-0's would do fine.

Goal difference against Malta WILL COUNT for the purposes of finishing 2nd in the group but WON'T COUNT for the purposes of avoiding being the worst 2nd place.

 

Slovakia have got a far superior goal difference to us, so it's only going to be an issue if we finish joint second with Slovenia. If Slovakia beat Slovenia, there's no chance of that happening.

 

If Slovakia beat Slovenia, we need to win ALL 4 games to finish 2nd. I'd be very surprised if there wasn't at least one group with less than 20 points or 14 points when you subtract the 6 points versus the bottom team. Even if we do finish joint worst 2nd place on points, no potential second place has as bad a goal difference as us and I think we're highly unlikely to make it up v Lithuania/Slovakia/Slovenia with 2 of those away and the home game being against one of the best counter attacking team in the Euros.

23 hours ago, er yir macaroon said:

That would really shake them up...

Edited June 23, 2017 by Que Sera Sera
To edit

[Que Sera Sera]

If Slovakia don't beat Slovenia, then how many we score against Malta could potentially be very important should we finish level with Slovenia.

[Que Sera Sera]

Just looking at the group again, we're only likely to finish level with Slovenia if they beat Slovakia. If they also beat Lithuania but lost at Wembley and drew with us, that'd give them 18. If we win the next 3, a draw with them would also give us 18.

[todd]

7 hours ago, weekevie04 said:

We just weren't at the races in both games. A mixture of everything really, and we seem to have the small-town mentality of over-achieving against bigger nations (or at least giving a lot more of a performance) when we are being doubted or playing against higher ranked/traditionally huge teams and struggle against the smaller ones. It's happened a bit in this group : beat Malta 5-1 (but  were very fortunate at times to win so clearly), Lithuania 1-1, Slovakia 3-0 pumping and not even close, England - likewise. So we're all written off and come back with a pretty good performance in the next two games against England and Slovenia. We struggle away though, but if you can't beat Lithuania, then we probably shouldn't even be thinking of Russia or even Playoffs.

One of the things I admire about the Irish side is you don't seem to have that issue and go out there and win those difficult games. Even that Austria game last week - in the end you were unfortunate to not get the 3pts and a terrible decision from the ref for the disallowed goal. 

Good luck with the rest of the campaign! Your group is tighter than the proverbial duck's .... but certainly looks achievable to get to Russia. I'll not predict any wins or further points as I wouldn't want to jinx you before you go back to Tblisi - but in the past, you have been very very good against Georgia

??

[irish]

On 6/23/2017 at 9:51 AM, weekevie04 said:

We just weren't at the races in both games. A mixture of everything really, and we seem to have the small-town mentality of over-achieving against bigger nations (or at least giving a lot more of a performance) when we are being doubted or playing against higher ranked/traditionally huge teams and struggle against the smaller ones. It's happened a bit in this group : beat Malta 5-1 (but  were very fortunate at times to win so clearly), Lithuania 1-1, Slovakia 3-0 pumping and not even close, England - likewise. So we're all written off and come back with a pretty good performance in the next two games against England and Slovenia. We struggle away though, but if you can't beat Lithuania, then we probably shouldn't even be thinking of Russia or even Playoffs.

One of the things I admire about the Irish side is you don't seem to have that issue and go out there and win those difficult games. Even that Austria game last week - in the end you were unfortunate to not get the 3pts and a terrible decision from the ref for the disallowed goal. 

Good luck with the rest of the campaign! Your group is tighter than the proverbial duck's .... but certainly looks achievable to get to Russia. I'll not predict any wins or further points as I wouldn't want to jinx you before you go back to Tblisi - but in the past, you have been very very good against Georgia

To be fair to the ref, Duffy led a bit with the arm but usually that would be allowed. Ref gave us nothing in that match. A playoff would be a good return but wouldn't take it just yet as we've still a chance at first though I can't see us getting more than 4 points at best out of the Georgia/Serbia double header.   

Getting back to Scotland's group, even a Slovenia win away to Slovakia may not be that bad if they drop points at home to Lithuania but can see them winning that easily enough. 

A draw would be the best result. 

I don't see Slovakia getting too many points from Scotland/England & Slovenia games so apart from the Malta game it's very possible they may only get another 5 points. 

Scotand still need to win either away to Slovenia or home to Slovakia in any case. 

 

[macy37]

Some absolute rockets on here think we've a chance for 2nd place.

I'd be amazed if we managed two wins. 

[bonny78]

54 minutes ago, macy37 said:

Some absolute rockets on here think we've a chance for 2nd place.

I'd be amazed if we managed two wins. 

Here here

[robbo cop]

One game at a time, let's not forget that Lithuania held us to a draw at home with us scoring very late to secure the draw. not that many years ago Georgia beat us when we looked good to qualify, so why some people on here seemed convinced we will beat Lithuania beats me.

I hope I am wrong but Scotland will need to be at there best and any slip up and we are out. I think that draw with Lithuania at home will come back to haunt us, not to mention the late late goal England scored. We should really be 4 points better off but hey this is let's do it the hard way Scotland. 

I will keep hoping and praying we can do it though

[adamntg]

12 hours ago, irish said:

 

Scotand still need to win either away to Slovenia or home to Slovakia in any case. 

 

Probably both.  Or away to Lithuania which will not be easy at all.

[Que Sera Sera]

13 hours ago, macy37 said:

Some absolute rockets on here think we've a chance for 2nd place.

I'd be amazed if we managed two wins. 

Anybody who uses the word rocket doesn't know much about anything including fitba.

[irish]

2 hours ago, adamntg said:

Probably both.  Or away to Lithuania which will not be easy at all.

More of a chance of beating Lithuania & Slovakia or Slovenia than both Slovakia and Solvenia .7 points is the least needed for those 3 games and a pretty good return as well. 

[adamntg]

28 minutes ago, irish said:

More of a chance of beating Lithuania & Slovakia or Slovenia than both Slovakia and Solvenia .7 points is the least needed for those 3 games and a pretty good return as well. 

Agreed.  If by some fluke we managed to win all three then second place would be guaranteed, but 7 might just be enough.

[bonny78]

Do you think we could curb enthusiasm till sep? Its torture otherwise 

[macy37]

8 hours ago, Que Sera Sera said:

Anybody who uses the word rocket doesn't know much about anything including fitba.

I was being polite.

[Bino's]

the only thing we can guarantee is if we get a free kick anywhere near the goal, it's going in

[bonny78]

57 minutes ago, Bino's said:

the only thing we can guarantee is if we get a free kick anywhere near the goal, it's going in

Yasssss

[Orraloon]

20 hours ago, adamntg said:

Agreed.  If by some fluke we managed to win all three then second place would be guaranteed, but 7 might just be enough.

Have we already won the home game against Malta, like?

[adamntg]

1 hour ago, Orraloon said:

Have we already won the home game against Malta, like?

Ocht aye.

[bonny78]

3 hours ago, Orraloon said:

Have we already won the home game against Malta, like?

Yes.  If we dont get 3 points in that game theres no point in us existing as a natuonal side in this universe.

[Bino's]

5 hours ago, Orraloon said:

Have we already won the home game against Malta, like?

aye, 2-1, 95th minute winner from Stephen McManus

[Texas Pete]

If we were ever going to get 2nd place in this group we were always going to have to beat Slovakia and Malta at home and take something against Lithuania and Slovenia away. 

Drawing against Lithuania at home and losing to Slovakia away now means we need to beat Lithuania away and Slovenia away. 

Our last 4 games are all realistically winnable. Unfortunately we could also lose/draw all of them with the exception of the Malta game.

Same old story with Scotland. You think we'd be used to it by now.

We are in a similar position to the last campaign going into the Georgia game, albeit 3rd place gets hee haw this time.

If we beat Lithuania away (difficult but doable) and beat Malta at home (more than likely) then 2nd place is in our own hands with 2 games to go. We can't ask for much more than that.