er yir macaroon Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 In the press today Strachan has said he took Tierney off and replaced him with Mulgrew because Fletcher had to go off through illness - leaving Denmark with 8 headers of the ball to our 4. This leads me to think that when the games get serious, especially against the big sides like England, he will either continue with Mulgrew at left back, Whittaker, or Lee Wallace (the better of the three options since he can defend and attack equally well). No place for Tierney or Roberston in these games and you can forget about Shinnie. The alternative would be a bigger midfield but I think he'll look to put height throughout the side. I don't remember a time when our starting 11 was so uncertain. I see certain starts for Hutton, Martin, Hanley, Mulgrew (somewhere), S. Fletcher and Snodgrass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Third Lanark Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 That's why Burke and Watt should start to become more regular in their appearances. But I think Gordon also meant that too many of our players are not match fit due to not playing for their clubs enough. So it should be goodbye to the likes of Whittaker, though we can't yet do without Greer. Don't see, though,why Mulgrew will be ahead of Robertson who is not a shortie is he? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angus_Young Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 I think, even most Celtic fans will agree, Mulgrew should be no-where near left back. I like the look of Tierney from what I've seen. Must admit I haven't followed much of Robertson at club level, how is he doing? Wallace has been very good for us this season, although it has to be acknowledged, that he isn't really being tested, from a defensive point of view, for sustained periods. Start of next season will be important for him in terms of call-ups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
er yir macaroon Posted March 31, 2016 Author Share Posted March 31, 2016 "We had to take Kieran off at half-time to put Charlie Mulgrew on because Steven Fletcher wasn’t feeling well. When he came off we only had four headers of the ball compared to their eight.”Read more at http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/gordon-strachan-danes-dwarfed-kieran-7658703#5ud9iUQmxsv4CPWj.99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
er yir macaroon Posted March 31, 2016 Author Share Posted March 31, 2016 Robertson and Tierney are both the same height. I think this reveals a lot about Strachan's intentions for the next campaign. Totally agree we need Watt and Burke involved if their form merits it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rossy Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 (edited) Just out of interest, why should we 'forget' Shinnie ? Edited March 31, 2016 by Rossy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudScot Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 9 minutes ago, Rossy said: Just out of interest, why should we 'forget' Shinnie ? Is he a hobbit? How tall is Shinnie? Let's just pick tall players who can kick the ball far. 'Gordon Strachan-Sbragia' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angus_Young Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 Have to say that's a pretty ridiculous approach. I realise we need to be weary of opposition threat, but surely, against Denmark, we should be looking to take the game to them? Of course, we won the game, so they can point to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMcoolJ Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 1 hour ago, er yir macaroon said: In the press today Strachan has said he took Tierney off and replaced him with Mulgrew because Fletcher had to go off through illness - leaving Denmark with 8 headers of the ball to our 4. This leads me to think that when the games get serious, especially against the big sides like England, he will either continue with Mulgrew at left back, Whittaker, or Lee Wallace (the better of the three options since he can defend and attack equally well). No place for Tierney or Roberston in these games and you can forget about Shinnie. The alternative would be a bigger midfield but I think he'll look to put height throughout the side. I don't remember a time when our starting 11 was so uncertain. I see certain starts for Hutton, Martin, Hanley, Mulgrew (somewhere), S. Fletcher and Snodgrass. Shinnie has played centre half. He's good in the air. Being good in the air is about timing and desire, not just height. Seen plenty of 6ft odd lads become about 5ft 5" when they jump for the ball. Strachan clearly listening to McMoron too much - more fool him. This stuff "in the press" (if true) is a real concern. Who cares if Denmark have 8 headers of the ball to our 4. All you need is 3 or 4 in your own team to zonal mark in the box. Does Strachan seriously identify "headers" of the ball and set out our team and tactics based on this?? Surely not. I'd be more worried about the fact that Mulgrew looks like Bambi on ice on the deck and that any half respectable wide player will beat him easily and get a cross in. Also inhibits us going forward using the likes of Mulgrew at full back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rossy Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 4 minutes ago, Angus_Young said: Have to say that's a pretty ridiculous approach. I realise we need to be weary of opposition threat, but surely, against Denmark, we should be looking to take the game to them? Of course, we won the game, so they can point to that. We won the game, but let's not pretend that we deserved to. For me, this is just another example of Strachan's often bizarre reasoning. If he hooks Tierney at half-time because he considers him 'not big enough for international football', then why give him a start in the first place ? It looks as well that Strchan has his doubts about Robertson (a TAMB favourite) for exactly the same reasons. I was just wondering why the OP considers Wallace good enough, but not Shinnie (who's also a very attacking full-back). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scot scotland scottish Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 Strachan needs to stop worrying about the opposition and focus on his own team. I find myself getting increasingly exasperated with him to be honest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
er yir macaroon Posted March 31, 2016 Author Share Posted March 31, 2016 7 minutes ago, Rossy said: We won the game, but let's not pretend that we deserved to. For me, this is just another example of Strachan's often bizarre reasoning. If he hooks Tierney at half-time because he considers him 'not big enough for international football', then why give him a start in the first place ? It looks as well that Strchan has his doubts about Robertson (a TAMB favourite) for exactly the same reasons. I was just wondering why the OP considers Wallace good enough, but not Shinnie (who's also a very attacking full-back). Don't shoot the messenger. Shinnie 5th 9, Lee Wallace 6ft 1. There are practicalities here and I can understand Strachan's logic. If we concede soft goals at free kicks and corners against big teams all the other effort is wasted (Remember England at Wembley?). Strachan was keen to stress players would still be picked on ability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angus_Young Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 6 minutes ago, Rossy said: We won the game, but let's not pretend that we deserved to. For me, this is just another example of Strachan's often bizarre reasoning. If he hooks Tierney at half-time because he considers him 'not big enough for international football', then why give him a start in the first place ? It looks as well that Strchan has his doubts about Robertson (a TAMB favourite) for exactly the same reasons. I was just wondering why the OP considers Wallace good enough, but not Shinnie (who's also a very attacking full-back). Aye agreed. Regarding Shinnie, I mind commenting on him a few weeks back as being your best player on the pitch. I was sure he was playing in midfield in that game though, or have I imagined that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hertsscot Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 51 minutes ago, er yir macaroon said: Robertson and Tierney are both the same height. I think this reveals a lot about Strachan's intentions for the next campaign. Totally agree we need Watt and Burke involved if their form merits it. According to Wiki Gibbs, Rose and Baines are same height or smaller so it's about a lack of height throughout the team rather than just in that one position. Can't help thinking I'd prefer Messi to Kevin Kyle though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
er yir macaroon Posted March 31, 2016 Author Share Posted March 31, 2016 6 minutes ago, Hertsscot said: According to Wiki Gibbs, Rose and Baines are same height or smaller so it's about a lack of height throughout the team rather than just in that one position. Can't help thinking I'd prefer Messi to Kevin Kyle though. No argument there. If we are to retain our smaller technical players we need to make sacrifices elsewhere. If we play Watt, Fletcher and Burke upfront and Mulgrew in midfield, fill your boots! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMcoolJ Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 15 minutes ago, Angus_Young said: Aye agreed. Regarding Shinnie, I mind commenting on him a few weeks back as being your best player on the pitch. I was sure he was playing in midfield in that game though, or have I imagined that? The problem we've got with Shinnie is that he's an outstanding full back but also our best midfielder. I'd go as far as to say he's the best player the Dons have had for a considerable number of years. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMcoolJ Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 22 minutes ago, er yir macaroon said: Don't shoot the messenger. Shinnie 5th 9, Lee Wallace 6ft 1. There are practicalities here and I can understand Strachan's logic. If we concede soft goals at free kicks and corners against big teams all the other effort is wasted (Remember England at Wembley?). Strachan was keen to stress players would still be picked on ability. So let's just have a team of basketball players then? I'm sorry, but there's no logic in this at all, it's utter nonsense and it really concerns me that the manager of our national team thinks in such a way. It's basic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parklife Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 Bit of a simplistic way of looking at it from the OP. I accept that on Tuesday Strachan decided to switch Tierney to increase the height in our team but on another day it could have been a number of other switches e.g. Mulgrew for McGinn, Griffiths for Martin, Maloney for an equally effective corner flag. It's not specifically height at left back that Strachan wanted, rather height in the team. I think most would accept that Steven Fletcher will play every game, plus Darren Fletcher should play. Add these two in and you have another 2 foot plus players on the park. It's a non-issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
er yir macaroon Posted March 31, 2016 Author Share Posted March 31, 2016 5 minutes ago, SMcoolJ said: So let's just have a team of basketball players then? I'm sorry, but there's no logic in this at all, it's utter nonsense and it really concerns me that the manager of our national team thinks in such a way. It's basic. I'd be surprised if any top flight football manager doesn't think that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMcoolJ Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 4 minutes ago, er yir macaroon said: I'd be surprised if any top flight football manager doesn't think that way. I realise you are the messenger here so not having a dig at you. Of course any decent manager identifies aerial threats. However, not in the way suggested above. The way to deal with this is at source - prevention, not cure. You certainly don't go picking an entire team around how many "headers" the opposition has. Any decent manager now also knows that the position of full back has changed markedly over the last 10 years. Not longer the position for some lanky lad with limited ability (Exhibit A - the lad Forsyth). It's a position in which good teams excel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orraloon Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 16 minutes ago, Parklife said: Bit of a simplistic way of looking at it from the OP. I accept that on Tuesday Strachan decided to switch Tierney to increase the height in our team but on another day it could have been a number of other switches e.g. Mulgrew for McGinn, Griffiths for Martin, Maloney for an equally effective corner flag. It's not specifically height at left back that Strachan wanted, rather height in the team. I think most would accept that Steven Fletcher will play every game, plus Darren Fletcher should play. Add these two in and you have another 2 foot plus players on the park. It's a non-issue. If both Fletchers have suddenly shrunk to 2 foot, I think it could be a fairly serious issue. And anybody who has ever seen him play, knows that Steven only has the one foot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
er yir macaroon Posted March 31, 2016 Author Share Posted March 31, 2016 Forsyth is rotten. Strength, pace and height are all very important now though, more than ever. Strachan's said our wee players have to be exceptional if lacking in physicality and sadly it's true. That doesn't mean brining in big oafs, we just need to get the balance right. There's still room for Gauld and the like in my book, but I don't want to see us bullied and conceding soft goals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bannannan Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 1 hour ago, ProudScot said: Is he a hobbit? How tall is Shinnie? Let's just pick tall players who can kick the ball far. 'Gordon Strachan-Sbragia' precisely what a load of shit eg Philip Lahm the 8 foot giant.wtf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hertsscot Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 (edited) Hope I'm not contradicting myself earlier which was a general point about height of any individual full back but it's perfectly legitimate to make a substitution with physicaliity in mind, Ferguson famously took off Stuart Kennedy and switched big Doug Rougvie over in the semi final against Bayern, wasn't a popular move with fans who rightly regarded Kennedy as the better footballer but was effective. Edited March 31, 2016 by Hertsscot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
er yir macaroon Posted March 31, 2016 Author Share Posted March 31, 2016 (edited) 20 minutes ago, Bannannan said: precisely what a load of shit eg Philip Lahm the 8 foot giant.wtf. but how tall are the rest of the German team? That's the point. Incidentally I'm Bannan's second biggest fan (not height-wise). Edited March 31, 2016 by er yir macaroon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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