Another start for O'Donnell

[jwok]

Well done, another cap. Gallagher on the bench again.

Hard to believe that Motherwell were in Israel in September, seems ages ago.

[sieb1886]

Well done, another cap. Gallagher on the bench again.

Hard to believe that Motherwell were in Israel in September, seems ages ago.

And, he done good again for the National team. Spoke very well after the game too when in the presser. Was asked to explain the stance we're taking on 'not taking the knee' and gave a great answer. On the game itself ... dire first 45 mins performance cost Scotland the 3 points.

[Handsome_Devil]

We were certainly awful in the first half but as I keep repeating in various conversations, that is our level. We have not had the players who were either good/consistent enough for years and years, and being solid-ish with what we have - especially the defence - is a triumph in itself. Sometimes that'll include bad spells or games though, it can't be helped. Scrapping into the Euros through the cat-flap on the back door does not make us a good team.

Israel are undoubtedly terrible and over the last years our record against them (excluding a penalty shoot-out win after we failed to get a shot on target in 120 minutes) is W1 D3 L2. And no one who watched those games would say it unfair.

Clarke - much like Alexander in a way - had one job, which was get to us to the Euros, and between squeezing the most out of what he had and a bit of luck, he did it. Long-term planning is not on his agenda right now and why should it be (especially if he's going to Celtic)? He has two home games in summer against sides that are better than us but not out this world better than us - be organised, disciplined and nick a goal from a set piece, long shot etc in one of the matches and there's a statue of him going up outside Hampden for getting to the knock-out phase. Fail and he still gets praise for bringing us to a first major tournament in two decades and he can leave someone else to unravel the car crash of our defence.