| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? 09:24 - Sep 12 with 4761 views | Darth_Koont |
Scotland have been playing and developing Clarke-ball for the past few years. And it shares a lot of similarities with how McKenna gets us to play. Namely overloading the flanks with spare defenders stepping forward into space, and with attacking midfielders finding gaps between the lines to support a lone striker running the channels. All with a willingness to play quickly and direct with lots of running to stretch play and finding space.
Clarke and the team have shown that by building the side around the strength of Tierney and Robertson on the left the other areas of the pitch can slowly but surely be tweaked to a higher level of performance than you’d expect from the individuals. We’ve done similarly by effectively building around the dominance of our right side over the past couple of years.
Now both teams are pretty balanced with threat from the other flank, and space and opportunities opening up in the middle for attacking midfielders as a result.
The difference — and what’s possibly interesting from the ITFC point of view — is that the Scotland team plays at a higher level against individuals and teams that are better and have more quality on paper. So this is possibly a glimpse into a Prem League future when we’ll likely need to punch significantly above our weight to compete. What you can see is a team that still wants to get on the front foot but there’s a lot more discipline and focus when defending and indeed we’ve got attacking midfielders like McTominay and McGinn who are very good off the ball and at falling back into a defensive shape.
McKenna rightly talks about learning and adjusting to the Championship and dealing with the threat and individual quality of say the Leeds attack. We should get a glimpse of that tonight against a much higher rated England side.
Now watch Scotland get pumped 3-0 through defensive chaos 😀 ... but I don’t really think that’ll happen. Just like with McKenna and us, I have real faith in what Clarke and the team have built/are building and the clarity behind it. So I’m going for 2-1 to Scotland as the team and Hampden will be right up for it.
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| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 09:31 - Sep 12 with 4041 views | giant_stow |
Quite a lot of people seem to be backing the Scots in this one. Wouldnt have a clue myself but will watch nervously. |  |
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| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 09:39 - Sep 12 with 3994 views | Darth_Koont |
| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 09:31 - Sep 12 by giant_stow |
Quite a lot of people seem to be backing the Scots in this one. Wouldnt have a clue myself but will watch nervously. |
As they showed against Spain and away to Norway, they’re a solid side that don’t get broken down easily. And very clinical at creating and taking chances when they flood forward. Plus underlying it all there’s an incredible self-belief and togetherness instilled by Clarke.
They’re a pretty strong international team that can certainly play a bit too. Which I haven’t said or even dared think about Scotland since the 70s or 80s. So I don’t think England can be favourites playing away.
It’s tight though. England have players with individual star quality who can always change the game in an instant. | |
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| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 09:47 - Sep 12 with 3948 views | monty_radio |
Was reading this morning that McTominey has been given a freer no 6 role that Man Utd have always denied him because of their mistrust of their centre back pairings. If he is a true no 6 who would you be comparing him with in the current Town set-up? |  |
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| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 10:51 - Sep 12 with 3806 views | Darth_Koont |
| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 09:47 - Sep 12 by monty_radio |
Was reading this morning that McTominey has been given a freer no 6 role that Man Utd have always denied him because of their mistrust of their centre back pairings. If he is a true no 6 who would you be comparing him with in the current Town set-up? |
Not sure I’d call him a number 6 in the true sense. He’s used differently on the right side from game to game to support the RCB (Porteous now though McTominay himself has played there) and RWB (Hickey or Patterson).
For me he’s essentially a tucked-in right midfielder. He’s more defensive than McGinn –and giving more supporting cover for the players around him and the centre midfield pair — but he’s certainly got licence to get into the box whenever we attack. Which he’s been ridiculously good at.
Overall, I think Clarke can use him to set the right balance between defence and attack as well as firm up the right side that is promising but not as individually and collectively strong as the Tierney and Robertson combo. Maybe something like how Luongo seems to help out our left side but it’s a role we don’t really seem to have or need at present — probably because we can still dominate teams at this level if we focus on our own game. But I think these all-rounder roles will creep in if and when we keep developing and playing better teams. | |
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| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 11:29 - Sep 12 with 3711 views | StochesStotasBlewe |
Interesting insight into the jock’s style of play and how they set up the team. Noticed that they have been doing well recently but hadn’t really delved into why. Thanks.
Will be watching with added interest this evening as a result. |  |
| We have no village green, or a shop.
It's very, very quiet.
I can walk to the pub. |
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| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 11:54 - Sep 12 with 3664 views | WeWereZombies |
Another similarity is that neither Clarke of McKenna has a truly effective striker to call upon and I think this affects the shape of the team as well. Watching the Cyprus highlights last week I couldn't help noticing how Che Adams often appeared to be out of position but I expect that was Clarke using him to drag the opposition apart. Thereby making space for McTominay, Porteous and McGinn to step up and score. |  |
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| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 12:22 - Sep 12 with 3591 views | _clive_baker_ |
Clarke's clearly a very good coach, as you say he's getting the best out of the players he has and has some really good footballers in his squad too, which of course helps. You don't fluke a 2-0 win against Spain only 6 months ago or go to Norway and get the win. 5 from 5 in qualifying so far is exceptionally good, only conceding 1 goal in the process.
I think the opposite is true of England, our recent record is good I would say owing to the talent we have available rather than Southgate's ability to get the best out of it. I'm not convinced he's a top manager but he's blessed with players like Stones, Bellingham, Saka, Rice, Kane, Foden, Grealish etc. who would get in most squads in the world.
Tonight will be really interesting. I'll go for a 1-1. |  | | |
| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 12:37 - Sep 12 with 3560 views | SE1blue |
Think the Scots might edge it.
I remember a comment on BBC sport the other day against ukraine that said the england players looked scared of getting injuries. Outside of major tournaments we seem a shadow of ourselves at times - probably due to club football preferences and promises.
Plus picking the likes of Henderson when other players are in form and far better… |  |
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| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 12:45 - Sep 12 with 3524 views | Stewart27 |
Fair play to Clarke here.
Not one Scottish player gets in the England team so it’s very much a case of the sum of its parts being worth a great deal.
Will be an interesting watch. | | | |
| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 12:50 - Sep 12 with 3506 views | Ewan_Oozami |
And who was Clarke Assistant Manager for at Chelsea....? :-) |  |
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| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 12:57 - Sep 12 with 3475 views | Metal_Hacker |
Truth be told if Southgate took off the handbrake England should win , not at a canter but a win all the same
Line up and Southgate dependant I'll go 1-2 or perhaps 0-3 |  |
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| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 13:05 - Sep 12 with 3435 views | J2BLUE |
Don't really like this game being a friendly. In fact, no big rivalry should ever be a friendly IMO. Would be much better to meet at the Euros.
Prediction: 1-1 |  |
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| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 14:34 - Sep 12 with 3304 views | BlueNomad |
| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 12:45 - Sep 12 by Stewart27 |
Fair play to Clarke here.
Not one Scottish player gets in the England team so it’s very much a case of the sum of its parts being worth a great deal.
Will be an interesting watch. |
Andy Robertson might get in the England team |  | | |
| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 14:41 - Sep 12 with 3291 views | SlippinJimmyJuan |
| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 09:31 - Sep 12 by giant_stow |
Quite a lot of people seem to be backing the Scots in this one. Wouldnt have a clue myself but will watch nervously. |
You'd like to think England would get the win if they up the intensity, but I don't really see that happening. Scotland to win 1-0. | |
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| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 14:42 - Sep 12 with 3288 views | Mookamoo |
| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 14:34 - Sep 12 by BlueNomad |
Andy Robertson might get in the England team |
Probably would and maybe McTominay could take the place of Phillips. That said, I haven't seen Phillips kick a ball for 2 years so have no idea what he offers anymore. |  | | |
| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 21:38 - Sep 12 with 3089 views | Parky |
Outclassed by England tonight and it wasn’t even Southgate’s strongest team. | | | |
| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 21:40 - Sep 12 with 3061 views | GlasgowBlue |
Nope. Don't see the similarities between the type of football Scotland played and McKenna's style of play.
Scotland had plenty of passion, but in all honesty there was no end product and lots of huff and puff. |  |
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| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 21:43 - Sep 12 with 3044 views | the_toff |
Well you talk a good game but Scotland look as crap as ever on that evidence. | | | |
| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 07:05 - Sep 13 with 2815 views | C_HealyIsAPleasure |
LOL |  |
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| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 07:11 - Sep 13 with 2792 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 21:43 - Sep 12 by the_toff |
Well you talk a good game but Scotland look as crap as ever on that evidence. |
 Scotland get battered everywhere they go | |
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| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 07:46 - Sep 13 with 2731 views | WeWereZombies |
| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 07:11 - Sep 13 by GlasgowBlue |
Scotland get battered everywhere they go |
That's not quite true, is it ?
Last eight Men's internationals: Won five, drawn one and lost two. two of those wins and the goalless draw being away from home. | |
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| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 08:00 - Sep 13 with 2684 views | DJR |
| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 07:11 - Sep 13 by GlasgowBlue |
Scotland get battered everywhere they go |
As a Scotland fan, I have for many years feared the worse but I was at Hampden in 1985 to see the last home win over England.
And I didn't realise how lucky I was growing up in the 1970s and supporting both Ipswich and Scotland, who both punched well above their weight. |  | | |
| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 08:13 - Sep 13 with 2645 views | Darth_Koont |
| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 21:38 - Sep 12 by Parky |
Outclassed by England tonight and it wasn’t even Southgate’s strongest team. |
Credit to England. They looked very dangerous in possession which we expected, with Bellingham particularly lethal. But off the ball they stopped us from getting going ourselves and relieving the pressure.
Still disappointing from us as we’ve generally risen to the challenge and been much better than that. But we certainly weren’t good enough tonight. | |
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| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 09:01 - Sep 13 with 2554 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 07:46 - Sep 13 by WeWereZombies |
That's not quite true, is it ?
Last eight Men's internationals: Won five, drawn one and lost two. two of those wins and the goalless draw being away from home. |
Whaaaaaaattttttt???.
Next you’ll be telling me that Ipswich aren’t by far the greatest team the world has ever seen?
Bloody football fans and their songs of hyperbole. We should sanitise the sport, do away with fans and players and play it by computer. | |
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| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 09:20 - Sep 13 with 2518 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Sco vs. Eng: Glimpse into the future for McKenna-ball? on 08:13 - Sep 13 by Darth_Koont |
Credit to England. They looked very dangerous in possession which we expected, with Bellingham particularly lethal. But off the ball they stopped us from getting going ourselves and relieving the pressure.
Still disappointing from us as we’ve generally risen to the challenge and been much better than that. But we certainly weren’t good enough tonight. |
Fair play for coming back to the thread with an honest assessment. | |
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