3rd Qualifying round: Scotland - Norway

[Saraj Fanatico]

Scotland will struggle here, they just don't seem to have their winning ways recently. 2-2 here.

[Andygers]

I thought Scotland did fantastically well away against Iceland who Norway drew against them at home.

Scotland 3-0 Norway :thumbsup:

[PAO_HELLAS]

2-1 for Scotland.

[DC92]

Scotland will struggle here, they just don't seem to have their winning ways recently. 2-2 here.

Yes, we have struggled a bit recently. But we put that behind us with a very good win in Reykjavik yesterday.

An if you think we're struggling, look at Norway's most recent results!

Results in 2008:

Wales 3-0 Norway 06.02.08
Montenegro 3-1 Norway 26.03.08
Norway 2-2 Uruguay 28.05.08
Norway 1-1 Ireland 20.08.08
Norway 2-2 Iceland 06.08.08

With Alan Hutton back (hopefully), I'm very confident for this one. I'm going for Scotland 2-0 Norway.

And liking the look of this team...

__________Gordon

Hutton Caldwell Weir Naysmith

____Fletcher Brown Robson

___Maloney Boyd McFadden

[DinoMostarac]

I'm going off a limb here and saying Norway wins.

[Saraj Fanatico]

Well I would like to see Scotland get it because Norway annoys me with Riise (Liverpool sucka) and that weirdo PEDERson. Can't stand their fruit team, sorry. But I still dunno if Scotland will win this after Norway's last embarrassment.

[A(Bosancero)]

Eh... it going to be a draw 2-2.

[COMEGATOS]

For Andy only I say 2-0 for Scotland!

:D

[A(Bosancero)]

^ have you even see Norway play? They are pretty solid sorry Andy you won't get those points easy!

[SiN]

i think scotland will win this one

[A(Bosancero)]

Sin has awoken :lol:

[Andygers]

^ have you even see Norway play? They are pretty solid sorry Andy you won't get those points easy! Come on man, we are talking about Hampden here, its a fortress just ask Ukraine and France. The Scotland team were outstanding on Wednesday against the same team that Norway drew with!

I feel that Scotland are strong enough to win every game at home in this qualifying campaign. It seems that many people are starting to doubt the Scotland team without actually seeing them just because of one defeat.

COME ON SCOTLAND!!!!

[Blaz3]

Scattyland 0 - 3 Norway

[Andygers]

Scattyland 0 - 3 Norway Oh dear.

Reverse that scoreline and go put a tenner on it, your sure to win ;)

[DC92]

^ have you even see Norway play? They are pretty solid sorry Andy you won't get those points easy!

We played them in the last world cup and beat them fairly easily in Oslo. We had lost at Hampden earlier in the campaign to them, but that was under Berti Vogts and so doesn't count:D

Caldwell and Weir will cope with Carew and Iversen imo.

[A(Bosancero)]

Norway isn't as bad as you all think they were really close to qualifying really close. They were one point away. They had some trouble with Turkey in Oslo.

[DC92]

Norway isn't as bad as you all think they were really close to qualifying really close. They were one point away. They had some trouble with Turkey in Oslo.


Yeah, I know, they are a decent side and I recognise that they could be a threat, but I see us winning this one. We were really close to qualifying as well and without sounding disrespectful, we had a much tougher group than Norway.

[A(Bosancero)]

Norway had a tough group as well I mean it had Greece the european champs, Turkey 3rd place World Cup finalists, Hungary a new great threat and some others.

[DC92]

Norway had a tough group as well I mean it had Greece the european champs, Turkey 3rd place World Cup finalists, Hungary a new great threat and some others.

I'm not denying that that is a tough groups. All qualifying group are tough. Ours was a nightmare though - world champions, world runners up, world cup quarter finalists... we also had Lithuania and look how well they're doing! Georgia are a dangerous team on their day as well.

[Almir11]

Come On Scotland 2-0 !!!!!!!!! I am rooting for you guys!!!

[Andygers]

Norway isn't as bad as you all think they were really close to qualifying really close. They were one point away. They had some trouble with Turkey in Oslo. Okay Amer I am going to give you countless reasons why I believe we will win on October 11th.

1. This is Hampden we are talking about, Scotland have made that place a fortress. France and Ukraine were beaten there and I feel Norway will be too.

2. The last time these two teams meet ended in a 2-1 victory for Scotland in Oslo in 2006 in the World Cup qualifiers. Norway were at that time much stronger than they are today and Scotland were at that time much weaker than they are today.

3. We have key players returning including one of the best full backs I have seen over the last few years, Allan Hutton. Also we have a lethal goalscorer in the form of Kris Boyd who has 6 goals in 6 Scotland starts ready to be unleashed.

4. As the member Scotland said, Norway have not won in 2008 with defeats to Wales and Montenegro. That does not suggest a team in form to me.

5. Scotland were outstanding against Iceland in Reykjavik, the same team that went to Oslo and earned a point.

6. Our goalkeeper Craig Gordon at his worst is great and at his best outstanding and our substitute goalkeeper Allan McGregor is equal if not better than Gordon at times.

There are countless other reasons I could say but I don't want to bore you guys.

[Andygers]

I wonder if Boyd will start, I hope he does and scores to shut all the Scotland doubters up!

[DC92]

I wonder if Boyd will start, I hope he does and scores to shut all the Scotland doubters up!

I'd like to see Boyd start. I think he's scored in every game he's started. But I think Burley will play...

Craig Gordon (Sunderland)

Alan Hutton (Tottenham)
Gary Caldwell (Celtic)
David Weir (Rangers)
Gary Naysmith (Sheffield United)

Scott Brown (Celtic)
Darren Fletcher (Manchester United)
Paul Hartley (Celtic)/Barry Ferguson (Rangers) (if fit)
Barry Robson (Celtic)

Kenny Miller (Rangers)
James McFadden (Birmingham City)

Or maybe because of the Macedonia defeat, he'll go for this team...

Craig Gordon (Sunderland)

Alan Hutton (Tottenham)
Gary Caldwell (Celtic)
David Weir (Rangers)
Gary Naysmith (Sheffield United)

Darren Fletcher (Manchester United)
Scott Brown (Celtic)/Barry Ferguson (Rangers) (if fit)
Barry Robson (Celtic)

Shaun Maloney (Celtic)
Kenny Miller (Rangers)/Kris Boyd (Rangers)
James McFadden (Birmingham City)

I'd like to see the second team with Boyd up front. I doubt Ferguson will play, but Walter Smith said yesterday that he would be back playing in 3/4 weeks (it's 4 weeks until the Norway game). I doubt he'll be risked, but it would be good to have him back.

[Andygers]

I'd like to see Boyd start. I think he's scored in every game he's started. But I think Burley will play...

Craig Gordon (Sunderland)

Alan Hutton (Tottenham)
Gary Caldwell (Celtic)
David Weir (Rangers)
Gary Naysmith (Sheffield United)

Scott Brown (Celtic)
Darren Fletcher (Manchester United)
Paul Hartley (Celtic)/Barry Ferguson (Rangers) (if fit)
Barry Robson (Celtic)

Kenny Miller (Rangers)
James McFadden (Birmingham City)

Or maybe because of the Macedonia defeat, he'll go for this team...

Craig Gordon (Sunderland)

Alan Hutton (Tottenham)
Gary Caldwell (Celtic)
David Weir (Rangers)
Gary Naysmith (Sheffield United)

Darren Fletcher (Manchester United)
Scott Brown (Celtic)/Barry Ferguson (Rangers) (if fit)
Barry Robson (Celtic)

Shaun Maloney (Celtic)
Kenny Miller (Rangers)/Kris Boyd (Rangers)
James McFadden (Birmingham City)

I'd like to see the second team with Boyd up front. I doubt Ferguson will play, but Walter Smith said yesterday that he would be back playing in 3/4 weeks (it's 4 weeks until the Norway game). I doubt he'll be risked, but it would be good to have him back. If we play that second team we will win by at least two goals :thumbsup:

I just feel that we need to win to shut up the people that write us off after one defeat.

[Vic]

Tough game to predict. I say 1-1.

[1bosnian]

scotland is going to own norway 3-0

[Andygers]

Tough game to predict. I say 1-1. I don't see why so many people are predicting a draw. Scotland will win trust me.

See my above posts for reasons.

[Andygers]

scotland is going to own norway 3-0 Finally someone with an ounce of sense round here!

[1bosnian]

i personaly think norway are a shitty team....i just dont like them especially pederson and riise....too idiots right there

[1bosnian]

i mean if bosnia can beat norway in oslo with our C team i think scotland can give them a hell of a beating

[Andygers]

i personaly think norway are a shitty team....i just dont like them especially pederson and riise....too idiots right there I wouldn't say they are shitty.

Norway are a very capable team but I feel that we are at the current moment much better than them and the game is in Scotland. I could understand the apprehension of predicting a Scotland win if the game was in Oslo and Norway were in good form but I just don't understand it at home.

[DC92]

I don't see why so many people are predicting a draw. Scotland will win trust me.

See my above posts for reasons.


I'm quite confident of a win as well.

Norway aren't the kind of team we normally have problems with. The teams we normally have problems with are technically gifted teams who attack at pace. While Iversen, Pedersen, Riise and carew are very good players, but none of them, I would say are particularly pacy. That's why I'm fairly confident of a win.

Davie Weir will score btw:)

[Andygers]

I'm quite confident of a win as well.

Norway aren't the kind of team we normally have problems with. The teams we normally have problems with are technically gifted teams who attack at pace. While Iversen, Pedersen, Riise and carew are very good players, but none of them, I would say are particularly pacy. That's why I'm fairly confident of a win. I agree, there is only one real technically gifted team in our group and that is Holland. All the others are physical and that suits us and the game we play.


Davie Weir will score btw:) Lol what makes you so sure?

[DC92]

I agree, there is only one real technically gifted team in our group and that is Holland. All the others are physical and that suits us and the game we play.

Yes, i reckon Macedonia could probably fit into that category as well, but Iceland and Norway are certainly opponents that suit us.


Lol what makes you so sure?

Just a hunch. We're pretty good at set-pieces and Davie is due a goal for Scotland;)

[Andygers]

Yes, i reckon Macedonia could probably fit into that category as well, but Iceland and Norway are certainly opponents that suit us. Yes I suppose at home they were very technically good but when they come to Hampden they will try and be a lot more physical.


Just a hunch. We're pretty good at set-pieces and Davie is due a goal for Scotland;) Yeah Barry Robson doesn't half whip in a good corner. You are right Davie is due a goal very soon.

[Emrah]

Hello guys.
I am working at a british pub in Altinkum-DIDIM
We have a lot of scottish customers who are asking about this match. We are not sure we have got that match. Which channel has got the rights for Scotland home games? The away matches belong to Setanta i know this.
Pls help me about this
thanks :)

and my prediction :
Scotland 1 - Norway : 1

[Freakshow]

3-0 to Scotland

[Andygers]

Hello guys.
I am working at a british pub in Altinkum-DIDIM
We have a lot of scottish customers who are asking about this match. We are not sure we have got that match. Which channel has got the rights for Scotland home games? The away matches belong to Setanta i know this.
Pls help me about this
thanks :)

and my prediction :
Scotland 1 - Norway : 1 All Scotland home matches are shown on Sky Sports :thumbsup:

[I Am Legend]

Hello guys.
I am working at a british pub in Altinkum-DIDIM
We have a lot of scottish customers who are asking about this match. We are not sure we have got that match. Which channel has got the rights for Scotland home games? The away matches belong to Setanta i know this.
Pls help me about this
thanks :)

and my prediction :
Scotland 1 - Norway : 1

Don't let them in...They will only smash the furniture up when they lose. :lol:

My prediction: Scotland 0 - 9 Norway :smoking:

[Aneke]

I thought Scotland did fantastically well away against Iceland who Norway drew against them at home.

Scotland 3-0 Norway :thumbsup:

Iceland isn't too much of a test. That's 3pts at home and 3 away.

Norway seems to be rather unpredictable and has awful results mixed with good ones. If they beat Scotland away and then lost to you at home, that's the Norwegian team for you.

I can't guess what the final score will be but I think Scotland will win this one. I think it's two rather evenly matched sides but Scotland has the home-side advantage and is the slightly better team.

[Andygers]

Don't let them in...They will only smash the furniture up when they lose. :lol:

My prediction: Scotland 0 - 9 Norway :smoking: Concentrate on your own team my friend.

[I Am Legend]

Well it seems the barman with the original question works in Birmingham...i can arrange a welcoming commitee. :lol::lol::lol::lol:

[benfica64]

Don't let them in...They will only smash the furniture up when they lose. :lol:

My prediction: Scotland 0 - 9 Norway :smoking:

Dang!! thats a bold prediction Man!! :lol::lol:

[DC92]

Dang!! thats a bold prediction Man!! :lol::lol:

For 'bold' see 'mentally retarded'

[DC92]

Alan Hutton is out, which is a blow but how about this team...

___________Gordon

Broadfoot Caldwell Weir Naysmith

____Fletcher Brown Robson
Maloney_____________McFadden
____________Miller

Maloney and McFadden can swap wings as well as they are both good at cutting in.

[Andygers]

Alan Hutton is out, which is a blow but how about this team...

___________Gordon

Broadfoot Caldwell Weir Naysmith

____Fletcher Brown Robson
Maloney_____________McFadden
____________Miller

Maloney and McFadden can swap wings as well as they are both good at cutting in. Great team imo. Quick, lethal and at the same time pretty solid.

If Miller keeps up his current form like today against the team you guys love to hate then we could be on to a winner.

[Andygers]

Scotland Squad vs Norway

Goalkeepers
Craig Gordon (Sunderland)
Allan McGregor (Rangers)
David Marshall (Norwich City)

Defenders
Graham Alexander (Burnley)
Darren Barr (Falkirk)
Christophe Berra (Heart of Midlothian)
Kirk Broadfoot (Rangers)
Gary Caldwell (Celtic)
Jamie McAllister (Bristol City)
Gary Naysmith (Sheffield United)
David Weir (Rangers)

Midfielders
Scott Brown (Celtic)
Kris Commons (Derby County)
Darren Fletcher (Manchester United)
Paul Hartley (Celtic)
Shaun Maloney (Celtic)
James Morrison (West Bromwich Albion)
Barry Robson (Celtic)
Kevin Thomson (Rangers)

Forwards
Kris Boyd (Rangers)
David Clarkson (Motherwell)
Steven Fletcher (Hibernian)
Chris Iwelumo (Wolverhampton W)
James McFadden (Birmingham City)
Kenny Miller (Rangers)

[benfica64]

Norway got a good shot winning here. Norway by 1

[Andygers]

Kenny Miller has pulled out of the squad, as has Kevin Thomson.

Darren Fletcher has been made captain, do you agree with that decisions?

[Andygers]

What a utter disgrace.

That first half was absolutely pathetic. Burley's time is running out. Now we have to beat Holland in either game and beat Norway over there.

Oh and btw how the hell did Iwelumo miss that :doh:

I probably won't be in a good mood on here tonight.

[A(Bosancero)]

What did I tell you Andy? Never underestimate the solid Norwegians.

[Andygers]

What did I tell you Andy? Never underestimate the solid Norwegians. It didn't have anything to do with them being good, it was us being utterly crap in the first half and bad managerial decisions, I mean when you put Steven Fletcher in front of Boyd you are asking for this.

[SiN]

i watched a bit of this match, it was very boring...

[Andygers]

i watched a bit of this match, it was very boring... Yes the first half was very boring. However the second half lifted it a bit.

Not good enough though.

[Andygers]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgKBHll8***&feature=related

:doh:

[SiN]

bad luck to scotland btw andy...

[DC92]

I was at Hampden yesterday. I don't think we were too bad. But Burley's tactics were mince, which was obvious even before the game. How can you have a 4-3-3 where McFadden is the focal point of the attack against giant defenders? What was the point in 2 wingers with nothing to aim at? If we were going to play that system, with Miller already out, we needed to have something for the wingers to aim at, like Kris Boyd (who has now retired under George Burley) or even Chris Iwelumo, with Faddy as one of the supporting wide men instead of Morrison(!?).

Gutted for Chis Iwelumo. He changed the game for the better when he came on. But that miss was up there as one of the worst ever (I am not exaggerating). Feel really sorry for him as that was the moment he had been waiting for for 30 years and it's now the moment he'll have nightmares about for the rest of his life. Fair play to him, he could have let his head go down and hide, but he didn't. He was desperate to atone. I'd be happy to have him in future squads.

The sooner Hutton, Ferguson, Miller and McManus return, the better. That is a blow, but we are by no means out of contention.

[Andygers]

I was at Hampden yesterday. I don't think we were too bad. But Burley's tactics were mince, which was obvious even before the game. How can you have a 4-3-3 where McFadden is the focal point of the attack against giant defenders? What was the point in 2 wingers with nothing to aim at? If we were going to play that system, with Miller already out, we needed to have something for the wingers to aim at, like Kris Boyd (who has now retired under George Burley) or even Chris Iwelumo, with Faddy as one of the supporting wide men instead of Morrison(!?). I agree Faddy wasn't getting on to any of the balls because he was up against two giants. I thought that we should have started with him and Boyd in a 4-4-2 but now Boyd has retired we have no natural striker.


Gutted for Chis Iwelumo. He changed the game for the better when he came on. But that miss was up there as one of the worst ever (I am not exaggerating). Feel really sorry for him as that was the moment he had been waiting for for 30 years and it's now the moment he'll have nightmares about for the rest of his life. Fair play to him, he could have let his head go down and hide, but he didn't. He was desperate to atone. I'd be happy to have him in future squads. Chris Iwelumo was actually one of our better players yesterday. I really did feel for him yesterday, that miss will go down in history but to be honest I catually think the guy should get another chance.


The sooner Hutton, Ferguson, Miller and McManus return, the better. That is a blow, but we are by no means out of contention. Yes we aren't out of it yet but I fear with all this Boyd stuff, it will cause turmoil in the team and we will just crumble.

Its not a great week to be a Scotland fan :(

[DC92]

I agree Faddy wasn't getting on to any of the balls because he was up against two giants. I thought that we should have started with him and Boyd in a 4-4-2 but now Boyd has retired we have no natural striker.

Chris Iwelumo was actually one of our better players yesterday. I really did feel for him yesterday, that miss will go down in history but to be honest I catually think the guy should get another chance.

Yes we aren't out of it yet but I fear with all this Boyd stuff, it will cause turmoil in the team and we will just crumble.

Its not a great week to be a Scotland fan :(

If there was anything positive we showed yesterday, it was a bit of fight. Losing Kris Boyd is a big blow. But I don't think it should affect the rest of the players.

Looking ahead to the Holland game in March now. It's not one which they are guaranteed to win. Let's stick 11 men behind the ball and stop them getting an early goal. The crowd will get on their backs and we can see out a 0-0 until the end, or maybe even nick a goal. They have had some fairly dodgy looking results at home over the last couple of years.

[BavarianRed]

Scotland is having some bad luck in these qualifiers, but hopefully they will pick up a win against holland which is un likely but i think they can do it..

[Andygers]

Scotland is having some bad luck in these qualifiers, but hopefully they will pick up a win against holland which is un likely but i think they can do it.. If we get anything in Holland I think we will get 2nd place. However its never going to happen.

[BavarianRed]

If your lucky you just might grab a point in Holland because you guys tend to play better against teams that are ranked higher than you, like the time you guys beat France twice both ending up in 1-0 results in paris and in scotland.. i dont like how the 2nd place team has to play a 2 game play match against another team from another group to determine who goes to the world cup?

[Saraj Fanatico]

I knew Scotland and Norway would be a draw. Told ya!

[Andygers]

If your lucky you just might grab a point in Holland because you guys tend to play better against teams that are ranked higher than you, like the time you guys beat France twice both ending up in 1-0 results in paris and in scotland.. i dont like how the 2nd place team has to play a 2 game play match against another team from another group to determine who goes to the world cup? Well if you look at the 2nd placed teams at the moment we have a good chance (if we finish 2nd).

Group 1- Sweden: Probably the best team that are sitting in a 2nd place at the moment. So we probably wouldn't beat them.

Group 2- Israel: We can beat Israel, they aren't anything special.

Group 3- Slovenia: I would like to think that we can beat them.

Group 4- Wales: Nothing special, I honestly think Wales are a poor side. We would beat them.

Group 5- Belgium: Another one of those maybe teams but I reckon if we are on our game we can beat them.

Group 6- Ukraine: Jeez. Awful tough to predict. Last time round they kicked our asses in Kiev and we kicked their asses in Glasgow. I think they are the 2nd hardest team currently in second.

Group 7- Lithuania: We beat Lithuania comfortably home and away only last year and I can't see why we can't do the same again.

Group 8- Republic Of Ireland: Arrgghh. Another one of those maybe teams, we could destroy them at Hampden but if that would be good enough, I don't know.

So out of 8 teams that are second (obviously standings will change but this is just hypothetical) 4 would be easy wins, 3 would be evenly matched and 1 would be a defeat. So thats suggests to me that if we get second place we can get to the World Cup.

[Andygers]

I knew Scotland and Norway would be a draw. Told ya! Yes. Well done.

[Saraj Fanatico]

Still I doubt Scotland will not qualify despite their choke lately.

[Andygers]

Still I doubt Scotland will not qualify despite their choke lately. Its still very possible that we can qualify but one more slip up (apart from Holland away) and we are pretty much out of it.

This start is because one of two things. Either Burley is getting us to play more attractive football and so this is the transition period where we will drop a few points OR Burley is an incompetent and incapable manager.

Hopefully for our sakes its the first one.

[zampao]

For the sake of Andy:

Scotland-Norway=3-0

[Andygers]

For the sake of Andy:

Scotland-Norway=3-0 The game has been and gone. Unfortunately it ended 0-0 :(

[Andygers]

I still think we can beat Norway away but Burley better get his bloody act together!!!