KSJ81 Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 Looking at the Scotland squad again where are McCormick and Rhodes? are they injured or out of favour, would have thought they'd be shoe ins by now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain America Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 Robertson should play, he had a good debut for Scotland and has been playing really well for Hull. Albeit in a more attacking role as a wing back he is so much better than Whitaker I hope there's not even a choice to make there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Milner Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 Looking at the Scotland squad again where are McCormick and Rhodes? are they injured or out of favour, would have thought they'd be shoe ins by now. Both out of form big time, plus i dont think Strachan rates Rhodes for the way he wants Scotland to play.Shame Jack was not involved, but he has so many good players ahead of him. Reynolds could probably be the only one annoyed as Bera is ahead of him, but im not sure he really has another level to step up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moose Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 I may have my blue and white goggles on here, but I can't understand why Rhodes isn't getting into these squads. Perhaps Strachan doesn't see the passion in him to play for the national team - as he's properly, full on English - but I think he's the second best out and out striker elegible to play for our nation (Naismith isn't a centre forward) and there's not much between he and Fletcher, although they are different players. I think Rhodes is more rounded, whereas Fletcher probably fits Strachan's system a wee bit better. He can easliy fit in to Strachan's system IMO and when he isn't banging in goals, he's holding the ball up well and creating. There's far, far more to his game than an outstanding scoring record (which is undeniably brilliant). He has excellent composure in front of goal which Scotland have desperately needed since Kenny Miller turned 30. I trust Strachan though. This is just one point I can't quite get around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Easy Wishes Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 I agree with you re: Rhodes. He scores lots of goals, and regularly. If he's out of form, fair enough tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Milner Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 (edited) Edited August 25, 2014 by The Milner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain America Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 I mean I think a lot of players would look bad in that Fulham team right now. It's basically an Under 21s side at the moment. Whatever they did to their squad in summer was an awful idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Easy Wishes Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkaline Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soda Jerk Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 I agree with you re: Rhodes. He scores lots of goals, and regularly. If he's out of form, fair enough tho. Impossible. Jordan Rhodes was born in form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murrr Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 The most jarring thing about that Scotland squad is the group of defenders. Christophe Berra (Ipswich Town), Craig Forsyth (Derby County), Gordon Greer (Brighton and Hove Albion), Grant Hanley (Blackburn Rovers), Alan Hutton (Aston Villa), Russell Martin (Norwich City), Andrew Robertson (Hull City), Steven Whittaker (Norwich City) Really bloody depressing, that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain America Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 Pretty easy for City. For the money that's been spent on Liverpool's defence they don't look any better yet. They may just need time to gel yet. Or a real holding midfielder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ca_gere Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 Holding midfielder and Centre half are the new Left Winger. Loads of teams seem to be in desperate need of them. What's with the Mignolet backlash? He's an excellent goalkeeper (no more blunder-prone than most). Judge a goalie when he's not completely exposed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paranoid Android Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 The world has been lacking in top quality central defenders for years now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ca_gere Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 I wonder why that is? I'd imagine there's a certain element of it being old fashioned to play a big bruiser Jaap Staam type at the back therefore less classic no 5s are recruited at a young age and more athletic players making the cut. The world needs more Tony Adams'ses's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paranoid Android Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 I'm not sure. Some might argue that the role has become more difficult than it used to be due to the changes in the offside law. Coaching maybe plays a part, look how much praise Pochettino got last season for having the Southampton defense set up well, it showed how unusual it is. I suppose the weakened status of serie a and Italian clubs might have had an impact at the highest level, there aren't as many of the cream of the crop being trained by in teams in that defensive culture. Perhaps it's just that here in the UK 4-4-2 was the norm for so long that everyone got so used to a 2v2 confrontation that they've struggled to adapt to to new systems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeinzHines Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 I think also with the higher importance of being good on the ball and moving forward, coupled with minor contact being foul play, decent sweepers/reducers have been made redundant. But a few teams could really use a power house these days.There does seem to be a lot of inexcusable positional play lately, possibly stemming from left/right backs importance to forward width, making space reduction hard across a back line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Milner Posted August 26, 2014 Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 The most jarring thing about that Scotland squad is the group of defenders. Christophe Berra (Ipswich Town), Craig Forsyth (Derby County), Gordon Greer (Brighton and Hove Albion), Grant Hanley (Blackburn Rovers), Alan Hutton (Aston Villa), Russell Martin (Norwich City), Andrew Robertson (Hull City), Steven Whittaker (Norwich City) Really bloody depressing, that. I dunno.You'd be looking at a starting back 4 of Hutton, Hanley, Martin and Robertson. About as good as we could hope i think, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Easy Wishes Posted August 26, 2014 Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 I dunno.You'd be looking at a starting back 4 of Hutton, Hanley, Martin and Robertson. About as good as we could hope i think, Yeah, nae bad...and wouldn't be improved by anyone that's not in the squad, I don't think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain America Posted August 26, 2014 Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 Giroud is likely out for 3months. Welp that's Arsenal's season boned unless a striker is bought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paranoid Android Posted August 26, 2014 Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 Kilmarnock might let Josh Magennis go for the right price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Milner Posted August 26, 2014 Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 Yeah, nae bad...and wouldn't be improved by anyone that's not in the squad, I don't think. Nah i dont see anyone who isnt in the squad who would improve that defense. Id probably have Reyonlds instead of Greer, purely because Reyonlds is not away to start collecting his pension, but he wouldnt start. Hutton is as good a right back as we have, and Robertson is the first real left back we've had since Davie Roberston, or it seems like that. Forsyth is a good option to back up Roberston and Whitticker is about as good a back up on the right as we have. You could maybe argue Jack, but he isnt really a right back, he can just play there. It would be a waste for the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted August 26, 2014 Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 Giroud is likely out for 3months. Welp that's Arsenal's season boned unless a striker is bought. As about the only person I know who didn't put him in their fantasy team I'm feeling pretty good right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Easy Wishes Posted August 26, 2014 Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 I didn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paranoid Android Posted August 26, 2014 Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 I don't know anyone who did! Milner you're forgetting Naysmith but still a fair point. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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