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Lobban coming on for U21 debut.

The sad thing is Clarkson would excel in another team's midfield. Hibs play a three-man midfield; usually Barlaser who sits between Grant Hanley and the other two midfielders, McGrath and Mulligan. I don't think any of those players are particularly more talented than Clarkson. Barlaser does the simple things. Collects the ball from defence and passes forward. McGrath and Mulligan collect and have three to four passing options -their front two and the two wing backs who get forward at pace. They repeatedly cut us open with just two-three passes a few weeks ago, not helped by our front three doing little pressing on Barlaser, and Palaversa having a nightmare, but that's another debate. For us, when Clarkson plays, often he turns and his options are a long ball forward (not necessarily a bad thing because he can pick players out from distance, one of his strengths) or a side ways pass to the wing back. He could be used so much more effectively in a three-man midfield. Technically, he's a better player than Hearts' Cammy Devlin, but even though they also play two midfielders, Devlin has two wingers and two strikers to aim passes at. Wait for him to sign for Hibs in January and start opening up chances for Boyle, Bowie and the two Caddens, while we're still scratching our heads.

Clarke will still be picking those three long after they have retired.

8 hours to get a VAR decision, sounds about right

Agreed but don’t think Clarke will agree. Can see him starting all 3.

That was a rollercoaster and typical Scotland. Complete shite at times and some great stuff at others. Result in Copenhagen means we are still in with a chance going into last game which I suppose if we were offered that at start of campaign we would have snatched it with both hands.

You have to laugh. Failure the Scottish way. No danger we are qualifying with a numpty like Clarke in charge.

Chemical Brothers - In Dust we Trust

Only to the Young Dudes.

Too slow

Gordon in as keeper.

Metallica - One

At least one of these games will be a classic Scotland cock up, like we have seen a million times before.

Yup, very similar approach to the Denmark game. Draw or win would be amazing, setting up a hampden finale. it’s just so hard being a Scotland fan, so often being the plucky loser. Hard to be optimistic, need two pretty much perfect games and really nothing suggests we’re capable of that.

Agreed. But we can never top them winning the WW1 shield.

If we can’t make a player like Clarkson work in our team then that’s our problem rather than his and he would be better off away. Which, imo, is a sad indictment of our current state of affairs.

Riot Women. I thought it would be a bit twee and very cringe. The concept certainly has the potential. I wasn't sure what way it would go after the first episode, but had a good feeling. It's brilliant. Didn't want it to end. It'll make you hate men.

Dunno if it is still there, but there used to be a bakery in Montrose town centre in tge 90s that made the most epic rowies. My dad was also a copper in Queen Street and always popped into Thains on George Street on his way home from night shift to grab a bunch of rowies from there - they were a close 2nd best

Have a word with yerself

Player of the tournament in my opinion

Clarkson is arguably our most talented plaar; that JT hisna got a tune oot o him is a pretty major failure on his part. That lame performance against Motherwell is the same issue extrapolated: our midfield set-up is a disaster. Naebody up the pitch. Surely the idea of having 3 centre-backs is to give your midfield better chances to get up the pitch?

Russel Anderson turns into fucking Romario in this format

I disagree. It's the equivalent of saying Billy Gilmour isn't good enough. You adjust the team to get the best out of players like Clarkson, because if you do then they'll create numerous chances. They're the difference between being a sideways, laboured, slow build up team, that hopes for a mistake from the opposition, and a team that makes the incisive pass and brings the attacking players into play when they have their best chance of scoring before the opponent gets back. The fact that we didn't sign anyone to compliment Clarkson, even as an option during games, is criminal. Even Robson knew how to get the best out of him. Clarkson taking the ball from defence and immediately getting the strikers involved, with Ramadani and Shinnie pressing high was a great setup. That, with the option switch and play two defensive midfielders and a number 10 like Armstrong would be a great way to build a squad (midfield). We really only needed one additional signing to do that. There isn't a chance on earth that Marshall is close to the level of Clarkson (that's not a criticism), and the Icelandic laddy looks to me to be a replacement for Nilsen in the squad, but I doubt he'll be getting much time this season. If Polvara is open to being a utility player, then he's worth his weight in gold. Palaversa can leave with many thanks for his only good game.

Presumably if this thread is focussed on AFC-related non-footballing matters we can just merge the Peter Ambrose thread into it?

Clarkson is too lightweight for our league. Skilful enough player but always seemed to disappear against teams like St Mirren with a more physical approach.

Spot on. When my tree goes up this week, I'll be thinking back to Hearts victory against the Central Powers in WWI. If it wasn't for the Jam boys getting a rare European away win, we'd all be speaking German.

Good.Theyre taking likes from indigenous posters

I'm sensing a deepening split in the moderator camp. Exactly the sort of thing that happens when dangerously miscellaneous threads are introduced to a forum. 263 people were killed in 2022 due to forum related violence, of which almost all were down to the lazy categorisation of topics. Forum moderator was the third most dangerous job in the UK that year.

Stuff the young crew wouldn't understand

Ye ken, stuff.

And the fact some of you didnt know this shows how far education standards have fallen