Scotland This Week - Page 4 - Betting Forum

GaNgStA kEeKs · #46 (**permalink**) 10-10-2006, 08:13

Have to say the papers and columnists are getting a bit out of hand now and i hope the players aren't the same going into the Ukraine game otherwise they will get a rude awakening.

Im the opposite Beanie.

I thought we would get not a thing from France but could have a good chance to nick something away at Ukraine.We have grown into a good side playing good teams away playing the counter attack and using Miller upfront as the lone striker very well.

Can't see us winning but a point would be absolutely superb if we could. Especially when you see 2 of our next 3 fixtures after this are very winnable games at home to Georgia and away to the Faroes.

The fixture list has been very kind to us to be honest.

Our last 4 games - 3 of them against Ukraine, Italy and France. By then we could have accumulated enough points from the smaller nations that we could maybe only need a couple of points from the games here.
All in all we have got a far better start than we ever could possibly imagined. Only 3 games in so no point settling for that now and lets just hope they can put in antoher legendary performance against Ukraine

crowie · #47 (**permalink**) 10-10-2006, 10:19

Don't think the players or management will be getting in any way carried away Kiko. Walter Smith is the perfect person for this sort of situation as he will ensure everyones feet are kept firmly on the ground.

We are doing well at the moment but we are only 25%, 3 games, into a 12 game programme so we still have a LONG way to go. If we are still challenging with 3 games to go then I will be delighted.

Not sure about tomorrow. Smith has the team set up very well to play away from home now, or indeed against teams better than us. I think we are seven unbeaten away but Ukraine are without doubt the hardest away opposition we will have faced in that run. A point would be superb as it will keep us top of the group as we hit the winter break. France will beat the Faroes and Italy will know they have to win in Georgia to match France's result there.

Certainly going better than expected from when the draw was made but still a long way to go.

**Beanie** · #48 (**permalink**) 10-10-2006, 19:44

When I say this is the one I was fearing most Kiko, rather than meaning I fear Ukraine more than France I was saying I fear the consequences of losing to the Ukraine a lot more than losing to France. I agree about the fixture list tho - its given us a great chance to put the big 2 under pressure that they don't usually have.

Injury news was poor today - Shevchenko has returned, and Georgia are missing 3 of their most important players for their tie v Italy.

Like crowie I think we will approach this in the right way, but the Ukraine are a top top team. They were awesome in WC qualifying, QFs at the WC, and by all accounts did very well in Italy and were a little unfortunate to lose. Hopefully, like the French, they become unsettled against a team that comes to sit in.

On the plus side, Kenny Miller is back and he is sooo important for this type of game.

There is talk of Whittaker playing tomorrow night - what an international debut that would be. He seems a fairly fearless player and will offer us a little more down the right than a centre half deputising there would, but no doubt it would be a huge test and he, like the rest of the team, has to perform if we are to get anything.

**Beanie** · #49 (**permalink**) 10-10-2006, 23:08

Seems a few locals have been noising up the Scottish fans, but thankfully the Tartan Army have walked away(although some with broken bones!)

Anyway, time to chuck the sensible hat to one side again and start getting right up for this...

The best picture from Saturday:

Go on Craigy boy!!!

**Beanie** · #50 (**permalink**) 10-10-2006, 23:32

And the U-19s beat Germany 1-0 tonight!!!! That follows the 6-0 win over Bosnia and the 4-0 win over Estonia! The future's bright

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6f--n_tdz0

CHANCE! GOAL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lnTLcTAhXI

And a wee song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQH44nRvvCc

CCCCCCCMMMMMMMMMMMOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!! !!!

**MickeyPaul** · #51 (**permalink**) 11-10-2006, 18:55

That Swedish ref was good eh?

Hope he enjoys his new life with that 100k he just earned from Ukraine's president.

daikoku · #52 (**permalink**) 11-10-2006, 19:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyPaul

That Swedish ref was good eh?

Hope he enjoys his new life with that 100k he just earned from Ukraine's president.

You know I was thinking the exact same thing.

crowie · #53 (**permalink**) 11-10-2006, 19:15

Fairs fair though, we would have been jailed for robbery if we had came away from that game with a point

Shevchenko just used what some would refer to as "experience" in the last 10 minutes.

We never really got out for most of the game and when they started coming at us with pace at the start of the 2nd half the goals were always coming. We had a few lucky escapes before they scored and they were much the better side all night.

Still, if we had been offered 3 points from these two games prior to the weekend I am sure we would have bit anyones hand of at that offer.

Just have to make sure we stick another 3 points on the board in the home game v Georgia before we head to Italy now.

Could be worse lads, could have been 1pt from home and away games v Macedonia and Croatia

mrmuzeman · #54 (**permalink**) 11-10-2006, 19:26

Quote:

Could be worse lads, could have been 1pt from home and away games v Macedonia and Croatia

BRING BACK SVEN

**keemanan** · #55 (**permalink**) 11-10-2006, 19:32

That was simply awful , just carrying on where they left off in Germany . They simply started to believe they're own hype

BRING BACK BECKHAM

**MickeyPaul** · #56 (**permalink**) 11-10-2006, 19:35

I agree with you 100% Crowie - we were absolute garbage and didn't deserve anything from that. WHAT ABOUT MILLER'S MISS!!!!! JESUS!!!!! Oh, anyway... aye, they deserved to win but that ref was obviously going to make sure of it. Incredible decisions. I jokingly said at the penalty (before he gave it), "Haha, he'll probably give a penalty there..."

GaNgStA kEeKs · #57 (**permalink**) 11-10-2006, 19:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmuzeman

BRING BACK SVEN

You know something. I was Svens biggest critic but i dont think England under Sven would've lost that game.

As for Scotland game. Can't argue with result and Ukraine more than deserved it. Did think they look pretty vulnerable at the back and at Hampden if we get stuck into them we can give them plenty of problems.

Like Crowie says. I was expecting a max of 2 points from these two games. To have 3 points is great.

Only downer is the fact that we have Pressley, McFadden and Fletcher missing next game. The latter 2 are big blows as they have been some of our best performers in recent years.

Good to see the Welsh and Northern Irish winning and Ireland putting in a far better shift.

crowie · #58 (**permalink**) 11-10-2006, 19:48

It wasn't great Mickey but we are a limited team. We were limited on Saturday, got the breaks, got a goal. We were limited tonight, got some breaks, lost a goal and missed the one real chance that we will probably always get in games like this.

Aye, a bad miss from Kenny but he is also in the team to run his arse of up front and that he does. We don't have a better option than him for that sort of role. If he could be guaranteed to take the one chance we get in a game EVERY time we get one he would be worth millions though.

My other real disappointment of these series of qualifying games is the amount of times that Scotland and Englands games KO at the same time and means I miss Englands escapades. Saw Neville's finish though, can't believe he missed that same sort of chance on Saturday but tucked a harder one away tonight.........

crowie · #59 (**permalink**) 11-10-2006, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiko

Only downer is the fact that we have Pressley, McFadden and Fletcher missing next game. The latter 2 are big blows as they have been some of our best performers in recent years.

True Kiko but we should have options to cover all 3 - Russell Anderson, McManus, Quashie, wide players like Teale or Scott Brown, maybe even Boyd up front with Miller in place of McFadden. Georgia won't be easy but they have been pumped at home tonight and hopefully that will be them out of the running come March. A full house at Hampden, a good performance and we should see them off.

The other point about the suspensions is they will all be back (expect Elvis to get a 1 game for the red card as it wasn't violent) for the crucial Italy away game that follows Georgia.

mrmuzeman · #60 (**permalink**) 11-10-2006, 20:31

Quote:

My other real disappointment of these series of qualifying games is the amount of times that Scotland and Englands games KO at the same time and means I miss Englands escapades. Saw Neville's finish though, can't believe he missed that same sort of chance on Saturday but tucked a harder one away tonight.........

Can anyone remember the last time that happened with the ball hopping cos of the goalies kick off divet? I remember it happening to Tim Flowers one time when he went to pick up the ball (shit musta been a long time ago then

) and the ball hopped over his shoulder