Rousseau

I doubt we'll be changing to a back three any time soon, so someone's going to miss out. A month ago I'd have been hard pressed to omit him from Midfield, but Docherty-Goss have been doing very well. It's now our defence that needs to be strengthened. I don't think he's quite there yet to be a main-stay at CB, but he won't be if he doesn't play. Playing beside Alves can only help.

Great news! Where does he play?

Surely his record at Preston suggests he is a 'flop' there? You're correct that it doesn't work out for some players at certain clubs, and that we can't rule anyone out from one spell. I was ambivalent about signing him when he played for Motherwell, but I'd certainly take him if we can get him for a decent price; there is probably more chance of that now he's left Scotland.

Not really 'new' per se, but a coming together of several rules implemented throughout Europe. The Italian Leagues have had the 12 subs for ages. The 4th sub in Extra time has been trialled too.

He still does play. I think he's captain of Genk?

50+1 Rule in Germany is a principled approach that has reaped dividends (no pun intended), but it requires a German Football League directive. It's a way of protecting the clubs from misrule, but limits their ability to tap into their commercial potential, outwith a few exceptions. https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/Bundesliga/german-soccer-rules-50-1-fifty-plus-one-explained-466583.jsp

McDiarmid Park? I gather it was only moved to Hampden to accommodate us?

McBurnie did quite well for Scotland last night. Nothing special, but he looks to be a good hold-up player, linking well with those around him. He never really got a sniff at goal, though.

Perhaps there is a reason he's only had 212 minutes, though?

I was intrigued by the formation, 5-4-1 (or 5-2-3), but we just played it the same as any other formation; dependent on merely getting the ball wide, with 'full-back' and winger combining to get a cross in. Do we really not know how to play any other way? Contrast that with Costa Rica, who played the exact same, building-up through the back, interchanges, one-twos throughout the team, and getting in-behind. Their goal was very well worked. Costa Rica have a smaller population than us and they have better tactical awareness and better technical players. I've always been a fan of Bryan Ruiz; elegant player. It's going to take a major cultural change to move on from this crap. Night and day with the Germany-Spain match. Germany were stuck in the past for a while there and made a conscious decision to change; they're now bearing the fruits of that with some delightful, dynamic, moving through the lines, play; the movement is just terrific.

True, they've been very consistent. I just don't see anything special offensively. They're well-organised, and clearly effective, but I think they've had good groups, although not easy by any means -- time will tell if they can replicate it. I think that's where we fall down. We can be well-organised and defensive, scraping a good result against decent sides, then completely fail against those we'd expect to beat; it is, as you say, the offensive side of it where we struggle, as it's just too predictable and one-dimensional. Give Lagerback time! Norway have a good bunch of players there; solid squad, without having any superstar -- Odegaard comes close, but he's still too young.

I think tactics has a lot to do with it too. The Dutch are predictable; they've not moved forward, despite still having one of the top squads in world football.

It is the right decision; he's nowhere near the first-team. Shame, really. He's a talented footballer, but the body just can't keep up with the mind anymore.

That's not back on topic...

Did Boyd actually say the "simple old fashioned way"? It will get you so far, like NIR; it should be something we can implement. I think Wales -- although it's a lot to do with Bale for them -- and Iceland are a tad more progressive, though; in terms of what they bring offensively. That's why they've went that little bit further. Iceland are actually incredibly fluid, changing from 4-4-2, to 4-5-1, to 4-1-3-2, to 4-3-3 (there was even an article I recall had them in a 3-3-2-2 in the build-up phase, which changed quickly). It's always focused, targeted tactics. And, Wales employ 3-4-1-2, which suits their players; at the very least it gives opponents something to think about. NIR's performance had an element of luck, for me (they were still effective, though). To be honest, it's the offensive side of the game we struggle with. We can set up defensively, and have done most of the time. Our offensive game is predictable and one-dimensional. There are no real alternatives in that regard. We should be doing much better than what we are.

Clearly I'm not, but it's not his fault or problem; he's a product of his generation. We need someone/something new.

I'm apathetic towards the National team, but I would never go that far. I'm a little more receptive with McLeish and the newer generation being given a chance, hopefully. And, Rangers players in the squad helps too.

They even have Ramsay and Allen, who are better than anything we have too. John played Left Wing-back, with a back-three. As sad as it is to say, Wales even have a more modern way of playing than us; that's one of the reasons they've done so well too. We're stuck in a rut; it's the same old same old.

Scotland have better squad depth, but Wales have better individual quality.

I'm equally as nervous as that, but because of that I can't not look. I need to see what's going on so I can release a few expletives; as a catharsis.

A Martinez-Rodgers Old Firm game would end 5-5!

I thought Pedro was kind of in the middle; not enough of either to make a difference. He had his principles but did change it to suit certain games. Clearly he wasn't good at either. It's an interesting point. Clarke would be the obvious pragmatist. It's more short-term, which we could do with. I still prefer to look more long-term. The Idealist would bring a better tactical style, and also build upon our Academy, which is what we really need to do. Even in that article, Rodgers is an Idealist too, so it can clearly work in Scotland.

I'm not convinced Martinez is a realistic option, but a man can dream...

I would be ecstatic with Martinez -- or someone akin to him -- but he'll not be everyone's cup of tea: Roberto Martínez and Brendan Rodgers: the flawed disciples of Pep Guardiola https://www.theguardian.com/football/these-football-times/2016/mar/07/roberto-martinez-brendan-rodgers-pep-guardiola-everton-liverpool It's too long to post, but it's an interesting read.