[BouncingHibees]

That'll be that, Darren Fletcher says we are good enough to win at Wembley HaHaHa

[hibeejim21]

Mcginn has been absolutely rotten today as well. Having him in a central 3 with Armstrong and Christie was just bonkers.

Che Adams left on the bench for a donkey from Livingston.

Players on the bench like forrest,turnbull and Gilmour who might, just might make something happen.

Just a totally bizarre set up.

[0762]

Totally agree re Clarke's poor team choice and IMO we are already out of this tournament after losing a game that we dared not to lose - IT'S OVER!! Listening to all this cringeworthy optimistic stuff (esp after listening to a lotta the same cringeworthy stuff preceding this crucial match - too much!!) coming from all these qualified footie pundits on bbc Scotland plus other media "hangers on" elsewhere. Also my previous concern highlighted in the "Luxembourg thread" very evident in this match - NO CLINICAL STRIKER READY TO PICK UP ANY HALF CHANCE IN THE PEN BOX AND BATTER THE BAW PAST A GOALIE WHO HAS PULLED OFF SAVE AFTER SAVE AFTER SAVE AFTER SAVE.........AD NAUSEUM!! The same prob was evident v Luxembourg - lotsa scorned scoring opps and 0-5 or 0-6 becomes 0-1!! Clinical strikers give top goalies nae chance and that is why they are clinical goal scorers!! I think we created about 5 decent scoring opps and missed them all!! I thought Robertson's shot to make it 1-0 in the 1st half had to be hard n low to score - why high and in the vicinity of such a big goalie????? Schick's goal must already be the goal of the tournament although I agree WTF was Marshall doing in a sweeper role - totally found out!! As for Hendry giving the ball away just preceding Schick's moment of magic? Don't take the shot rather than holding possession and play in O'Donnell on the right wing!!! IMO poor decision making and eventually punished with a world class goal the likes of which one doesn't see very often. BUT WHY AGAINST US!!???? A second goal that really stunned the whole team and the fans and it took a while to pick up any momentum from that sickening moment. I thought there wasn't much between the teams up to that point. As previously commented - it's great to have a clinical striker and they had that skill in this match. I thought the referee was absolute shite btw and irritating with it and that leads me to that pk incident when McTominay (who was shit for most of this match!!) dashed into their pen box and he was blocked by their CB who had a great performance defensively. It was not a pen. But the offence was one of obstruction almost on their 6 yard line!!! Does the rule re obstruction still exist or not??????? I believe it is still a rule that can be applied by any competent referee. I've occasionally applied that rule myself when officiating matches (hand in the air - indirect free kick awarded due to a blatant obstruction offence) and I see no difference when observing what was a blatant block by that Czech CB, IMO a big moment at a crucial point of this game.

[hibeejim21]

I reckon if that Robertson chance had fallen to Tierney he would have buried it. Robertson made an absolute mess of it.

That O'Donnell is seriously pish as well, we had better options than him as well.

[0762]

Gotta agree with Bouncinghibees re that Fletcher remark!! Good enough to win at Wembley eh????? I really find these kinda remarks to be so disingenuous and ignoring what is happening on the field of play. I wish we had a true world class goal scorer!! Then we'll always have a chance v anyone as long as we are defensively half decent. IMO it is already time to capitulate and just field our best formation for the remaining matches and try to play well v two different types of footie team that will present different challenges in each match. It is all about experiencing the occasion for a lotta players who haven't savoured it for such a long time.

[HerefordBull]

Thought it was all about fine margins today.....................Czechs had a guy who knew how to finish whereas the Scots lacked that composure and quality. The chances were there.

Anyway . 'mon Wales, Cymru am byth.

[hibeejim21]

I'd be tempted to drop Mctominay to the back for Wembley.

[0762]

Forgot to add that Schick is a £40M striker!! We have nobody near that kinda hi quality player. I've previously watched him playing in Bundesligue matches for Bayer Leverkusen and didn't know he was a Czech player. My "ears pricked up" as soon as I saw him in the opening mins of this match, well aware of his threat. I wonder if Steve Clarke similarly knew how dangerous a threat Schick posed to that Scotland defence?????
On a lighter note, I think a fitting song should be dedicated to the Scotland team tonight - it has to be "BLAME IT ON THE BOOGIE" by the Jackson 5 lol

[ritchiebaby]

The real tragedy was that Marshall had a really good game, but all his excellent work was thrown away in one moment of madness. I've been going on for years about the fact that keepers should stay centrally in their penalty box, ready to move out quickly only when required.

Marshall's casual attitude was to be found all through the team. We only looked the part after we were two down, but even then the Czechs looked just as likely to score. Clarke picked a team for an away game with no adventure in attack.

[hibeejim21]

I thought 1st half some of his positioning looked a bit ropey, and the Czech boy told the media he noticed this and made his mind up he was going to go for a long shot if he got the chance.

Stevie set us up like we were playing away from home in a qualifier, instead of going for a win at home in a tournament. Dykes is the kind of player you chuck on for the last 10 in desperation, not someone you build your attack around.

Back to the drawing board.