g@un Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 (edited) I know we have just finished this campaign, but perhaps we can start to think about next time round? Basically who would be in your next WC 2018 squad? I'll start this off, I've included age as of next September: Possible 26 man squad vs. Malta Gordon (33) McGregor (34) Marshall (31) Hutton (31) Caddis (28) Robertson (22) Shinnie (25) Hanley (24) Martin (30) Wilson (24) - he may be playing top flight football if things continue, I still rate him. Berra (31) McArthur (28) Dorrans (29) Morrison (30) Brown (31) Mulgrew (30) Gauld (20) - If he progresses Ritchie (will have just turned 27) Anya (28) Forrest (25) Snodgrass (will have just turned 29) - hopefully he is the same player as before, a sore miss last campaign Fletcher (29) Griffiths (26) Rhodes (26) Russell (26) Naismith (will have just turned 30) Average age of just under 28 so not too old. Darren Fletcher may still be around, and younger players like Jack, MacLeod, Souttar, Bain, Fraser etc will all hopefully be there or thereabouts. Edited October 12, 2015 by g@un Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TartanDave Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Never really thought Caddis was good enough but haven't seen him for a few years, think Bain could be worth including from now on at cost of Mcgregor, need a young goalie in and around squad. The lad Cooper at Leeds is worth scouting definitely, and I think Jack by then will have really staked his claim and be in squad. Callum Paterson if he improves slightly defensively should be first choice right back, I'd also be tempted to bring back Bardsley, always very impressed by him. Think ryan fraser and ryam christie will also be in squad by then as both seem to be improving drastically at the moment. Hopefully Gauld as you say really begins to come on between now and then. Tony Watt another that will hopefully have a big year. Any friendlies between now and then should see at least 1, possibly 2 of those lads get some game time with others experiencing the squad. It's time to bleed in some youth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyD Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Not convinced Caddis is even in the top 3 of right backs we have, his club are certainly doing miserably this season and he'll be lucky not to be a league one player next season. Paterson's at Hearts is showing promise and LIam Palmer's was part of a fairly tight Sheffield Wednesday defense last season (17 clean sheets). Does Shinnie really warrant the call ahead of Forsyth? Wilson, it's hard to say. His choices bother me. He had the chance to step up the SPL and test himself against better teams, but turned it down for an easy life and little to do in the SChampionship. Will have to wait and see whether he has the heart for actually competing at a good level, let alone international. Dorrans. I'm still not convinced. Showed some willingness to try things against Gibraltar, but none of them really came off. If you can't make a difference against Gibraltar then.. sorry, but we need better. Gauld, maybe. Wait and see. Still in the B team in Portugal, so still needs some time it seems. Up front is a big question for me. We're not nearly clinical enough, we lack anticipation and positioning. I'm really struggling to be enthusiastic about Fletcher and Naismith up front now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g@un Posted October 12, 2015 Author Share Posted October 12, 2015 Forgot about Cooper. Watt definitely has the ability. In my eyes, Paterson is a wait and see type player. Bardsley is a good shout, although not convinced him and Strachan see eye to eye? Others are Bannan, Phillips, Cairney and possibly Forsyth (although he bottled it in the Ireland game and looked a mess). Also Douglas if he has improved at Lech Poznan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g@un Posted October 12, 2015 Author Share Posted October 12, 2015 Hopefully Griffiths continues to fire and doesn't ruin things by doing something stupid off the field. He could step up for us. Excited to see Harper at Brighton. He must be back to fitness soon? I really hope he is something different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caledonian Craig Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Stats don't lie. We scored enough in this campaign (nine out of ten games) but conceded far too many. Sort out the defence and that solves many problems. Statuesque defending cost us a draw in Germany and a couple of wins against Poland in games that we have scored goals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g@un Posted October 12, 2015 Author Share Posted October 12, 2015 Bang on. If we can sort that out without affecting some of the decent attacking play that has been shown, then we should be fine. Agree about Fletcher and Naismith, although both are important players at the minute, they aren't clinical enough in the big games. The onus is on the other forwards to be thinking about grasping the opportunity when it comes. We need a striker who can score at least 7 or 8 in a campaign, with those coming evenly against the bigger teams and not just 5-6 vs. the group minnows. Most of the successful nations have one, Kyle Lafferty did it for NI, Bale for Wales (not a striker but an immense focal point player for them). We're due one surely... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TartanDoz Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Surely Armstrong will feature in the next campaign. Be too early for Christie but he will defo be in the squad soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caledonian Craig Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 The attack is fine. The fact we concede too many is the issue here. In the past we have gone to Germany and won scoring once (Don Hutchison) and scored once at home and drew (year Miller scored) but we had more water tight or at least more secure defence. That really is the key. I think Greer has played nine or ten games for us and we have conceded just five goals. I don't buy lucky mascot pish and don't give a stuff how old he is. If he is shoring up goals then get him in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
er yir macaroon Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Lee Wallace will be back in contention. He's good defensively. Admittedly he sometimes looks like the worst player I've ever seen and at other times outstanding. He's big if nothing else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g@un Posted October 12, 2015 Author Share Posted October 12, 2015 I totally forgot about Armstrong. GMS also. Bloody hell, we're fine at LB. Robertson, Shinnie, Forsyth, Wallace, Douglas, any more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diego10 Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Paterson is still very raw defensively, in particular up against tricky players. Gets squared up very easily and can be a bit rash in the tackle. He will be there or thereabouts soon,as he's phenomenal in the air which is a huge boost at set pieces where we struggle and can run all day plus he's a big attacking threat. Hutton has to still be right back for now though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest allyc Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Shinnie or jack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest allyc Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 No thanks to lee Wallace.he doesn't currently playing for a big enough club...just because they will be back in the premier,he is surely at the back of the cue until he proves otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudScot Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Shinnie or jack. Andy Shinnie and Jack Harper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hannibal smith Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Paterson is still very raw defensively, in particular up against tricky players. Gets squared up very easily and can be a bit rash in the tackle. He will be there or thereabouts soon,as he's phenomenal in the air which is a huge boost at set pieces where we struggle and can run all day plus he's a big attacking threat. Hutton has to still be right back for now though. Yeah I agree with Paterson although his progress in the last 12 months has been fantastic Wilson on the other hand should be nowhere near the squad, was found out on any big games hearts had last season and there were not many hearts fans sorry to see him leave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudScot Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Yeah I agree with Paterson although his progress in the last 12 months has been fantastic Wilson on the other hand should be nowhere near the squad, was found out on any big games hearts had last season and there were not many hearts fans sorry to see him leave Wilson is not perfect but he's still the closest thing to a centre half prospect we have so needs looked at. We have Hanley, Martin, Berra and then nobody - Given the fact Greer is going to be 37 by the next campaign. The under 21's have no centre halves you can see making the grade and Wilson is in the bracket of too old for them and maybe a bit off the full squad. Grim times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
er yir macaroon Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Yeah I agree with Paterson although his progress in the last 12 months has been fantastic Wilson on the other hand should be nowhere near the squad, was found out on any big games hearts had last season and there were not many hearts fans sorry to see him leave The big French lad destroyed Paterson on Saturday. He's got a lot to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
er yir macaroon Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Wilson is not perfect but he's still the closest thing to a centre half prospect we have so needs looked at. We have Hanley, Martin, Berra and then nobody - Given the fact Greer is going to be 37 by the next campaign. The under 21's have no centre halves you can see making the grade and Wilson is in the bracket of too old for them and maybe a bit off the full squad. Grim times. Not seen this player, but an intriguing one. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-3209579/Everton-set-sign-Partick-Thistle-starlet-Jack-Hendry-week.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudScot Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Not seen this player, but an intriguing one. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-3209579/Everton-set-sign-Partick-Thistle-starlet-Jack-Hendry-week.html Yep that lad went to Wigan for a couple hundred thousand. Dont think he's had an Under 21 cap even? But one to keep on the radar - Gary caldwell can mentor him into a top centre half Joking aside we could do with a Gary Caldwell type player badly now!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest allyc Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 (edited) No graeme shinnie or ryan jack... Edited October 12, 2015 by allyc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonny78 Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 lets wait and see how people do this season and also into the start of next season. I think we should pick players on form unless they have stunning ability i.e. Anya and the Thumb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheesynsicksheep Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 I'll be interested in how the Rangers lads take the step up next season, Halliday,McKay & Wallace look good this year, Halliday & McKay in particular would be good inclusions IF they can handle the jump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
girvanTA Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Didnt handle it very well v St Johnstone imo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErsatzThistle Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 Wilson is not perfect but he's still the closest thing to a centre half prospect we have so needs looked at. We have Hanley, Martin, Berra and then nobody - Given the fact Greer is going to be 37 by the next campaign. The under 21's have no centre halves you can see making the grade and Wilson is in the bracket of too old for them and maybe a bit off the full squad. Grim times. You haven't heard of Liam Cooper at Leeds Utd ? I'll be interested in how the Rangers lads take the step up next season, Halliday,McKay & Wallace look good this year, Halliday & McKay in particular would be good inclusions IF they can handle the jump. Andy Halliday ? International quality players don't get released by Bradford City, just as he was a few months ago. Wallace is finished at international level. He looks good because he's been playing against semi-professionals most weeks. Robertson and Shinnie are well ahead of him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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