allygator

End of year review
It's been an exciting 6 months to be a Scotsman with 5 games played we've managed to win 5 games with a pretty impressive scoring record, we sit second in our World Cup Qualifying Group with a game in hand.

however we still have a few tricky games to come especially against Italy. The emergence over the last few months of youngsters from Aberdeen and Hibernian aswell as the Old Firm trying to do their best we can only look forward to more happy times and less hard times, well atleast thats the hope. With no more ties till Febuary when we take on Croatia at Hampden we look forward to seeing what other exciting players make the breakthrough at home and abroad.

On the domestic front Aberdeen continue to win plaudits under their tenure of manager Jimmy Calderwood, the Dons have now managed to go
18 league games with only one defeat and that was against Dundee Utd. despite the good record though the Old firm remain in the first two positions with Rangers in pole.

In Europe both Rangers and Celtic have made it through to the first knockout stage of the Champions League with Celtic facing Liverpool and Rangers at Barcelona we can only hope these kinda games raise our profile abroad, the UEFA cup on the other hand was pretty much a disaster as no Scottish clubs made it through the group stage.

allygator

Toner names squad for Croatia as he looks towards Italy
As the Scotland squad was named today it included a lot of defenders perhaps Toner is looking towards the away match to Italy, However as we glanced over the squad it appeared that this is possibly the strongest squad Scotland at the moment could put together with only really David Marshall and Jackie McNamara to step in. It will be interesting to see how Toner approaches the Croatia game. One noteable inclusion is that of in form striker Stephen McPhee who plys his trade in Portugal with Beira-Mar when Toner was asked about the call up he simply said "well the boy has been scoring for fun, why not see what he's got to offer on the bigger stage.".


Scotland Squad

Goalkeepers
Craig Gordan (Newcastle)
Paul Gallacher (Norwich)
Ian Turner (Everton)

Defenders
Peter Canero (Leicester)
Ian Murray (Hibs)
Russell Anderson (Aberdeen)
Phil McGuire (Aberdeen)
Zander Diamond (Aberdeen)
Kevin McNaughton (Aberdeen)
Gary Caldwell (Hibs)
Steven Hammell (Sheff Wed.)
Gary Naysmith (Everton)
Andy Webster (Aston Villa)
Steven Pressley (Hearts)

Midfielders
Barry Ferguson (Blackburn)
Stephen Pearson (Celtic)
Darren Fletcher (Man Utd)
Joe Hammil (Hearts)
Scott McKenna Ramsey (Keflavik)
Barry Robson (Dundee Utd)

Forwards
Paul Gallagher (Blackburn)
James McFadden(Everton)
Derek Riordan (Hibs)
Garry O'Connor (Hibs)
Dougie Freedman (Crystal Palace)
Stephen McPhee (Beira-Mar)

allygator

9th February 2005 - Hampden Park - Scotland v Croatia
Scotland line up ;Gordan, Naysmith, Webster, Diamond, McNaughton, Robson, Ferguson, Fletcher, Pearson, McFadden, O'Connor.
Scotland couldn't have asked to get off to a better start when on 9 minutes a lovely through ball found O'Connor in space to make it 1-0. Croatia looked stunned and Scotland applied pressure after pressure and the work paid off 3 minutes later when a shot from Barry Robson troubled the keeper who could only spill it on to the on running Darren Fletcher who kept his composure to make it 2-0.

Croatia did however have a few chances but Gordan was un troubled until the 25th minute when he missed judged a swerving cross as he was caught in no mans land when Ivan Olic headed home to bring the Croatians back into it 2-1. However Scotland re-affirmed their 2 goal lead 4 minutes later when Garry O'Connor dribbled past two defenders and slotted the ball home 3-1 at the half time whistle.

With a host of changes made at half time the game suffered as a result most noteably it was Scotland who suffered when the croats found a way back into the game with a superb 2 minute double salvo from Klasnic and Budan to bring the game level at 3-3. The game looked to be heading for a draw until late in injury time a Scott McKenna Ramsey corner found fellow substitue Peter Canero on the edge of the box for the Leicester man to volley home and secure victory for the Scots.

Scotland got out of jail in this game but the defensive performances during the game will be more than a concern for the up coming Italy game.

FT - Scotland 4 - 3 Croatia

allygator

Scotland Rocked by injury blow on eve of Italy Match
Scotland are cursing their luck today as manager Toner confirmed to a packed news conference that Russell Anderson and Jackie McNamara had to withdraw from the Scotland squad due to injuries. This adds to the injury to Phil McGuire earlier in the week when a controversial matter of Gareth Williams refusing a call up threatend to disrupte Scotlands preperations Aberdeen Midfielder Scott Severin was drafted in instead. Toner has decided not to draft anyone in to cover the latest injuries due to the short notice however he has demanded an apology from Williams before he even thinks of picking him again.



Scotland Squad

Goalkeepers
Craig Gordan (Newcastle)
Paul Gallacher (Norwich)
Allan Combe (Kilmarnock)

Defenders
Peter Canero (Leicester)
Ian Murray (Hibs)
Russell Anderson (Aberdeen)
Jackie McNamara (Celtic)
Zander Diamond (Aberdeen)
Gary Caldwell (Hibs)
Steven Hammell (Sheff Wed.)
Gary Naysmith (Everton)
Andy Webster (Aston Villa)
Steven Pressley (Hearts)

Midfielders
Barry Ferguson (Blackburn)
Stephen Pearson (Celtic)
Darren Fletcher (Man Utd)
Stephen Hughes (Rangers)
Scott McKenna Ramsey (Keflavik)
Barry Robson (Dundee Utd)
Gavin Rae (Rangers)

Forwards
Kenny Miller (Wolves)
James McFadden(Everton)
Derek Riordan (Hibs)
Garry O'Connor (Hibs)
Dougie Freedman (Crystal Palace)
Steven Thompson (Rangers)

allygator

26th March 2005 - Artemio Franchi, Florence - Italy v Scotland
Scotland line up ;Gordan, Naysmith, Webster, Diamond, G Caldwell, Robson, Ferguson, Fletcher, Pearson, McFadden, Thompson.
Italy dominated the first half and if not for the good work of the goalkeeper and defence we could have been on a serious hiding to nothing however the scoreline stayed blank until the 35th minute when a loose pass out of defence by Gary Naysmith allowed Cassano in and the hitman duly took the chance with the upmost ease 1-0. To say we were outclassed in the first half would be an understatement as we couldn't even muster one decent chance on goal but with only one goal in it the 2nd half brings hope.

The 2nd half didn't give up as much hope as Toner wanted and with the scores still level he went for the equaliser with one last throw of the die but it took Scotland 78 minutes to get their first shot on goal but unfortunatly Gavin Rae's attempt fell straight into the arms of Buffon. Italy killed the game and inflicted Toner's first defeat as Scotland manager in the 89th minute with Scotland attacking they Italians countered in classic fashion and Di Vaio rocketed home from just inside the box 2-0.

Being beaten by a strong Italian team is nothing to be ashamed off however the way his side were defeated maybe more of a worry for the Scotland manager who will be looking to get back into winning ways when his side come up against Moldova in 2 and a bit months.

FT - Italy 2 - 0 Scotland

shannon2007

Yeah losing in Italy is to be expected really, apart from that the results are ok, and the story is good. Glad to see you havent given up

allygator

Nah not given up just been trying to pace myself so i don't lose interest

retired_getfit2day

Nice start Gary. :thup:

GL with qualification

Mike..

Like the guys say, you seem to have started well as a manager and it certainly makes for good reading

BarryLFC

Results are way better than I managed!