Gribz 743 Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 Different thread for what might be be Leveins last match in charge, and a brief match preview seen as I havent done one for Rangers this season. I cant see a miracle and Scotland beating the most improved side in Europe. Levein should get Paul Lawrie in from the Ryder Cup team to give some inspirational talk. But even a win in this game means we will still have to beat Belgium in the reverse fixture at home, then get at least 4 points from two matches v Croatia and not lose in Serbia.....not to mention beating Wales and Macedonia. Scotland need about 17-19 points from 7 games due to the opening two draws at Hampden plus the collapse in Cardiff. Belgium borders and is surrounded by 3 great footballing nations - Germany, Holland and France. So in recent times they have obviously looked at what France did in the 90s and what Germany and Holland have always done and now their side is full of quality. If they can avoid the in-camp fighting that 2 of those countries are known for then they could see themselves rise to the cream of Europe over the next few years. Their starting XI is very strong boasting the talent that includes Vincent Kompany, Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen, Moussa Dembele, Eden Hazard and Kevin Mirallasbut. But to catch the likes of Germany, Spain and others they need a strong 23. Levein says its a must win match, that means he might be tempted to play 1 upfront. But if he wants half a chance then Charlie Adam cant be near the team, once he came on for Broon on Friday he was a disaster and gave the ball away all the time. In defence Alan Hutton who hasnt played 1 minute for Aston Villa will start at RB. The former Rangers full backs career has went massively backwards after moving down south but on his day is still a top notch player. Southamptons unknown Fox will be at LB with Caldwell and Berra sitting infront of the man who saved Levein's job at Hampden against Serbia - Allan McGregor. In midfield will be Darren Fletcher, James Morrison, Kris Commons and Shaun Maloney are likely starters but with Scott Brown pulling out Id suggest Levein will play Charlie Adam to make a 5 man midfield. Don Cowie has been drafted in and if he starts it will prove another baffling decision by Levein and people will ask why was he not in the original squad if he intended to play him over others - same as what happen with Commons last Friday. Upfront Steven Fletcher who is scoring in the BPL will lead the line in a likely solo role with the hope Maloney, Commons and Morrison will get up and support him. Id personally start with both Fletcher and Kenny Miller and drop Adam from the below team. There is goals in both Miller and Fletcher and Miller has always played better in a 2 man attack. ________________________McGregor_______________ Hutton___________Caldwell_________Berra________Fox Commons____Adam_______Fletcher____Morrison___Maloney ________________________Fletcher__________________ I can only see one outcome - Belgium 2-0 Scotland. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazza_8 233 Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 I think they'll take 4 or 5 off us which wouldn't bother me in the slightest. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
der Berliner 3,427 Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 Scotland suffer new low as Cape Verde overtake them in FIFA rankings CRAIG LEVEIN’s men are set to tumble from 47th to 56th in the new standings after drawing their first two World Cup qualifiers. COTLAND are now worse than the Cape Verde Islands and Central African Republic according to FIFA’s world rankings. Craig Levein’s men are set to tumble from 47th to 56th in the new standings after drawing their first two World Cup qualifiers. And that will make them a laughing stock after falling behind minnows such as Gabon, Panama, Mali, Jamaica and Libya. Even Cape Verde will now be ranked above Scotland in 51st place – despite the West African island having a population of just 500,000 and only participating in World Cup qualifiers since 2002. And the Central African Republic, who had a FIFA Ranking of 202 just two years ago and won their first World Cup qualifier this June against Botswana – will also sit above Levein’s troops in 49th place. However, the Tartan Army can take one small crumb of comfort from next month’s rankings – we’ll be one place ahead of our next opponents Wales. Sayest the Daily Mail 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
calscot 0 Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 Is it really surprising that we are now footballing minnows? Just why would a small country like Scotland be any good at it? Not only do we have a small population to choose from, according to the Daily Mail we are second behind the US in the obesity league table at 26% (with England fourth at 22.5%) and so have even less healthy people to make up our potential squad. Until recently we slashed the average number of hours that kids are exercising in PE in schools and banned them from playing football in the playground in case of injury and risk of being sued. We've dug up and built on pitches and most parents don't allow their kids to play on the streets anymore. We have a couple generations that prefer playing computer games to playing a sport and a legacy of teaching non-competitive doctrines. Spending on sport is pretty low especially compared with arts, and while the latter is worthy, it doesn't help the poor physical health of the nation. We are way behind the world in our grass roots football, for kids and adults and these days charge a fortune to anyone who actually wants to play. How many kids from working class families can afford to play at Power Leagues a couple of times a week? Add in to the that the perpetual incompetence of the SFA and self interest in the clubs which has all but killed our game. The kicker is the amount of money that leaves an already less well of Scotland, to go to the already rich Premiership clubs of England. We're one of those middling affluence countries that is not rich enough to throw money at the problem or poor enough to have nothing else to do but kick a ball around. Instead we're a fat, lazy, small minded, middling affluence, low populated country with fading memories of a much more illustrious past. We've lost all vision of what used to make Scotland exceptional in so many ways with regards to education, sport, arts and philosophy. Expecting more from us in a footballing sense is ignoring where we are as a nation. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gribz 743 Posted October 16, 2012 Author Share Posted October 16, 2012 Scotland: McGregor, Hutton, Caldwell, Berra, Fox, D Fletcher ©, McArthur, Morrison, Commons, Maloney, S Fletcher. McArthur in for Broon. At least its not Adam. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
foggy dewhurst 0 Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 belgium are 1 / 3 in the turf accountants get you life savings on them 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
54andcounting 0 Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 belgium are 1 / 3 in the turf accountants get your life savings on them ....much will I get back if I put my £4.69p on them? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
54andcounting 0 Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 belgium are 1 / 3 in the turf accountants get you life savings on them ....much will I get back if I put my £4.69p on them? ...on second thoughts - 2007: France 0-1 Scotland. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
foggy dewhurst 0 Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 at odds of 1/3 for your stake of £4.69 you will get £6.25 back 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
54andcounting 0 Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 H-T Croatia 1-0 Wales 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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