March Friendly

[adamntg]

Not at hampden mate but I've never came across a more bigoted, hate filled support, out with club football, than I did when we played them in Dublin for the carling cup.

I appreciate that fixture would've brought out the worst in their support in the same way some of your boys got grief on Friday, but it was pretty poisonous and left a sour taste.

Aye, they were like the Last Night of the Proms. A strange country.

[ErsatzThistle]

A number of those teams would be to "outside the box" for the SFA to consider (ie Belarus, Albania Montenegro etc....).

Slovakia we were suppose to play when we got hammered by Sweden in Stockholm, and sure they got upset and reported us to FIFA or something over going back on our word to play them....

SFA will never consider playing a non-FIFA/UEFA affiliated nation in a friendly on the off chance it gives a few nations within FIFA the chance they need to get stuck into our FIFA position.

Recall a big deal was made when we played Switzerland that there would be a return game, but apparently the SFA agree to these a lot and have been known to take their time over it (estonia last year being repayment for a game I. 2004).

Loathe as I am to give the SFA credit for anything I'm not too sure I'd say they don't think "outside the box". In 2009, they did after all arrange that away friendly against Japan in Yokohama. In Europe, we've also had recent(ish) away friendlies against Cyprus and Slovenia.

It's probably more a problem of them being dopey, lazy, kunts who wait until it's too late to arrange a friendly against half-decent opposition. That means we're left with the same old teams like the Faroes, Wales, the Czech Republic and Lithuania being the only opposition available and it's not worthwhile playing them.

I don't think anyone would care about us playing unrecognised nations such as Catalonia and Corsica. The French FA until recently had an extremely repressive attitude towards letting Brittany (who had a game against the Rep. of Ireland cancelled) and Corsica play games but they are thankfully much more open minded in the last few years.

Wales played the Basque Country back in 2006 and there wasn't any controversy. It's just a friendly match after all. Likewise, Corsica played Bulgaria in 2012. Whilst Catalonia played the Cape Verde Islands and Nigeria just last year.

In fact I'd argue that playing a game versus an unrecognised national team such as Catalonia or Corsica would actually be a decent alternative to the now seemingly dead B-team games. Strachan could pick a team of fringe players under the age of 25, work with them on the training ground and see who impresses during the match. Even if they were to lose, it wouldn't hurt our rankings at all as Catalonia, Corsica et al are not recognised by FIFA or UEFA. It also means that some young Scots get their first Scotland cap (it's up to the SFA not FIFA or UEFA on what matches to award caps to) and have a chance to impress the manager.

It would of course be absolutely fecking brilliant for the Republic of Scotland to play the Republic of Catalonia one day soon in the World Cup

[wanderer]

Loathe as I am to give the SFA credit for anything I'm not too sure I'd say they don't think "outside the box". In 2009, they did after all arrange that away friendly against Japan in Yokohama. In Europe, we've also had recent(ish) away friendlies against Cyprus and Slovenia.

It's probably more a problem of them being dopey, lazy, kunts who wait until it's too late to arrange a friendly against half-decent opposition. That means we're left with the same old teams like the Faroes, Wales, the Czech Republic and Lithuania being the only opposition available and it's not worthwhile playing them.

3:

Japan offered the SFA a lot of money to go across for that match (they even offered the SFA the full tv rights to the match).

Cyprus in November made a lot of sense (good weather in winter to have a training camp).

Slovenia also made sense because of the group we got drawn in for the World Cup.

These games are ok, but like I said, not much chance SFA would consider the likes of Albania or Belarus (unless the offer was right).

Faroes at Aberdeen was a case of Levein wanting a B game and nobody being interested in one, so we ended up getting the Faroes, calling up a B-ish looking squad and playing the game as a full international.

[ZoltanBuchan]

Craven Cottage is soooo 2014.

The Den is where it's at in 2015.

That'll do me...only league ground in London I haven't been to :-)

[Donaldo87]

Just wish they'd get them f'ing announced

[scottincarlisle]

Just wish they'd get them f'ing announced

Patience...it'll be worth the wait as well as the competitive prices.

Edited November 23, 2014 by scottincarlisle

[ProudScot]

A winnable home game to boost ranking points surely - Greece, Austria etc at home would be perfect. Can even try a couple of guys out against a team like that and still go for the win

[DavyP]

A winnable home game to boost ranking points surely - Greece, Austria etc at home would be perfect. Can even try a couple of guys out against a team like that and still go for the win

Greece at home would surely be winnable...they are pure rank at the minute...even the Faroes have more points than them...

[Green_Tide_Rising]

A winnable home game to boost ranking points surely - Greece, Austria etc at home would be perfect. Can even try a couple of guys out against a team like that and still go for the win

Greece definitely mate

But id probably steer clear of Austria - decent side with some very good players

They have their tales up at the minute too

Their Currently 4 points clear at the top of a group containing Russia and Sweden and Montenegro

[wanderer]

Interview with Strachan in the Record yesterday and Northern Ireland (described as the strongest of 3 possible opponents) get a mention, with something to be announced next week.

Also mentions June (with basically a response of "we will cross that bridge when we come to it"..........) and mentions we did ok in Croatia, but the gap is longer this time and hopes that the likes of Blackburn, Derby and Norwich are involved in the championship play off final.

[wanderer]

I agree those dates are the most likely but I was just poining out that there are no restirctions to play on any date in May or June. Last year there was a black out but only for WC teams (to try and give everyone a rest before the tournament). Teams not playing in the WC were able to play any day. This year Scotland (and anyone else) can schedule a fixture any of the 365 days in the year (although clubs are not obliged to release their players outside international dates but after the season has finished it is fine). You will see Euroean teams playing friendlies from mid May onwards.

Was meaning more along the lines of we are not going to play in London on a end of May Saturday the same weekend as the FA Cup or the Championship play off final weekend (though isn't that traditionally played on the bank holiday Monday?).

[The Kilt]

Interview with Strachan in the Record yesterday and Northern Ireland (described as the strongest of 3 possible opponents) get a mention, with something to be announced next week.

Also mentions June (with basically a response of "we will cross that bridge when we come to it"..........) and mentions we did ok in Croatia, but the gap is longer this time and hopes that the likes of Blackburn, Derby and Norwich are involved in the championship play off final.

The more i think about this game against Ireland we need to play 1 or 2 games to keep them sharp. The gap is far too big.

They were talking last night on TS how Bayern went off the boil at the end of last season as the players switched off after winning the league so early. That got me thinking we should play a game. A very easy tie were we can get some goal scoring practise.

This one again is our cup final and a win would surely give us the best chance of at least 3rd place.

Edited November 26, 2014 by The Kilt

[ErsatzThistle]

The more i think about this game against Ireland we need to play 1 or 2 games to keep them sharp. The gap is far too big.

They were talking last night on TS how Bayern went off the boil at the end of last season as the players switched off after winning the league so early. That got me thinking we should play a game. A very easy tie were we can get some goal scoring practise.

This one again is our cup final and a win would surely give us the best chance of at least 3rd place.

Before we beat Croatia 1-0 away, many of the players hadn't played for a few weeks before that. We still done alright that night. Strachan also makes the players train much, much harder than they were used to under Levein and Burley so fitness shouldn't really be an issue.

We shouldn't bother with a friendly. In fact we should be playing the bare minimum, what is it two or three a year ?

[wanderer]

The more i think about this game against Ireland we need to play 1 or 2 games to keep them sharp. The gap is far too big.

They were talking last night on TS how Bayern went off the boil at the end of last season as the players switched off after winning the league so early. That got me thinking we should play a game. A very easy tie were we can get some goal scoring practise.

This one again is our cup final and a win would surely give us the best chance of at least 3rd place.

It's a really hard one to call....

The gap between end of season and Ireland game is really long (chance it will be close to a month a number of our players have gone without kicking a ball)..... But saying that, the squads that make up our squad and Ireland squad is in the same boat (so it's not like Croatia where a number of the Croatian players were still in their season).

At the Q&A after he announced his Wales and Serbia squad he was asked about a pre-croatia freindly and was fast to shoot it down.

At the time this upset a lot of people on here as his basis for this was logic that it would be Wigan in the FA cup final (this was at the quarter finals stage) and a Blackburn v Brighton style Championship play off final.... Granted he got lucky with Wigan making the FA cup final.

Suppose it comes down to type of game he goes for.... Nation ranked to high and danger focus gets taken off the Ireland game, or do you play a minnow nation and risk key players getting injured in a meaingless match?

I am swaying slightly towards no match in June before Dublin, but the gap is a slight worry.

Edited November 26, 2014 by wanderer

[Guest allyc]

I wouldn't have any more games.

[ProudScot]

We play less games than most nations.

USA and countries like them play twice as many matches and their ranking is usually skewed to show them higher than they should be because of it.

Not saying we should double up on games but why not play a couple more winnable friendlies each year. Cape Verde are there for the taking right now

[wanderer]

We play less games than most nations.

USA and countries like them play twice as many matches and their ranking is usually skewed to show them higher than they should be because of it.

USA play so many friendlies because outside of World Cup years, all they can really do is play friendlies until the Gold Cup comes along (and even then there is no qualification for that, so it only takes up a 2/3 week window once every 2/3 years).

We are pretty much tied to the set dates, but agree, when it comes to end of season games we are pretty much still in the dark ages (going to the Kirin Cup years ago was considered madness as the players would miss their holidays), but is starting to get better over the last few years.

Edited November 26, 2014 by wanderer

[washboarder]

nice wee friendly against Israel in Cyprus at end of march would be a tasty one

[tattiescone69]

nice wee friendly against Israel in Cyprus at end of march would be a tasty one

Going to be a home game , you know it

[washboarder]

I know tattie just wishful thinkin

[jock strap]

I can't believe who were playing !

[DoonTheSlope]

I can't believe who were playing !

Straight from the left field anyway, not been mentioned on this thread to my knowledge.

Bring them on!!!

[Bzzzz]

I think the SFA will find out that they've really shat in their own nest with their disgraceful ticket hikes, unless it's a "glamour" friendly, whatever that might be, I forecast a lot of empty seats. I've no missed a home game since 2001 but if they're going to go down the £30 a ticket for a friendly route then I've got better things to spend the money on. Ticket + travel + food&drink (+ hols for some)? I think not.

[deecie]

I can't believe who were playing !

Is it Zambia at the Den?

I tried to search twitter for this vicious rumour and only found this: https://twitter.com/dykemarchscotia

[wanderer]

Is it Zambia at the Den?

I tried to search twitter for this vicious rumour and only found this: https://twitter.com/dykemarchscotia

There is a Nigeria v Scotland in May one going around on Twitter, but it's someone just retweeting the original rumour from this years game LOL

Pretty much like before Poland when Twitter was full of a tweet saying Darren Fletcher set to make his return for Scotland v Poland (when the original tweet was for the friendly game).