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I admire your optimism that Clarke even watched that game. Although having an underwhelming game every week hasn't prevented Hanley and a few of his mates from being selected.

I still think he’s the best striker we have on the books. I don’t think he really wants to be here though so if we can get rid of him and pocket some money fair enough.

Oh dear, just when we thought the club was progressing nicely, we get a swift boot in the gentlemans area and have to take that dud back. 😭

Reached out with two fingers.

I welcome your insight into Serie A and it’s reassuring to hear that you have been impressed by him. For one reason or another however, Steve Clarke hasn’t. It was reported today that Clarke had a conversation with those at risk of missing out in the WC during the March camp. Lennon would have been one of those. That being the case his last chance to impress would have been at home to Cremonese, That day I was very underwhelmed by Miller and Udinese. I of course want him to reach the heights we all think he can and I’m gutted that he is missing out in the opportunity of a lifetime. Accounting for the period of adjustment in Italy, I am searching for reasons as to why i) Miller missed out on the original 26 at the expense of a 5th centre forward and ii) Fletcher impressed the coaching staff more in a few days than Miller has over several camps.

Especially since they keep playing Dane Murray.

Fifa are apparently getting clever and going all high tech for the world cup circus, Fans in Scotland will never see it though as it needs more than 1 camera and trained competent officials to be used https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c232d34kkyzo

Thanks for the inside track on Lennon: great to hear of his development on and off the pitch from someone who knows Serie A. Haven't heard him speaking Italian yet but Ferguson at Bologna sounded ok. Yes, I felt the same. I feel he's really thrawn and blinkered and I feel he didn't like Lennon's naïve/misreported comments a while ago, probably especially coming from a "diddy team" player at the time. A four-year contract for Clarke before a WC tournament is insane but sums up the SFA's cosy cartel of useless blazers who have failed to produce any improvement in the Scottish game domestically or internationally since the 80s.

I’m sorry but as someone who is immersed in Serie A I can’t agree with this. Miller has played over 1000 minutes this season in a strong Udinese side with an excellent midfield. The coach has said numerous times what a strong player he is and his team mates have said how shocked they are that he has adapted so quickly to the game here. He is 19, moved to a different country by himself, playing at a much higher level and didn’t speak the language (as an aside I heard him try an interview in Italian recently and was impressed) I moved to Italy 20 years ago, the same age as Lennon. It’s a very different place from Motherwell and can be very lonely at times. Playing high level sport (as I was also doing at that time) also makes the transition even more difficult. I have been very impressed with him and expect him to get more game time next year.

It worked for Mcglynn

I didn't know that Forrest and McGregor weren't fêted much (unlike foreign players) by the Celtic support. I feel this is typical in Scotland. If you have an Italian, Spanish or sexy Dutch name, you're probably going to be regarded as intrinsically better. Likewise, if John McGlynn were a slim 30-y-o with a sexy foreign name, he would be praised as a tactical genius. IMHO one of the best things Askou did was to show that humble players, Scottish or otherwise, could play great football based on ball-control, positional awareness, passing and moving, bravery on the ball and risk-acceptance if they are properly coached. In a sense, Clarke is the opposite, as stuck in the past as the other hardy annuals on the Scottish managerial merry-go-round who people our media as pundits. As far as Scotland squads are concerned, OF Scottish players can walk in but players at provincial clubs are at a huge disadvantage and SC will look to the English Championship, whether in form or not, before considering a Watt, McGinn or Welsh. Some might say Clarke hasn't as much time with the players as club managers do but most of those players outwith the Scottish Premiership are probably quite used to more enlightened coaching. They just need a mindset and a plan devised by a talented and progressive manager.

New ideas, that would no doubt be telling the players of that era, they needed to train twice a day, 4 or 5 days a week, eat well , drink less etc. Ideas that were totally alien to players of that era, but are now expected as the minimum standard.

You are miles out i am afraid. Press conference set to be held there to announce Wishy as ryder cup venue in 2031 ! 🤪🤪

That a different level to “was seen at upper crust bakery” 😂