McGregor/Gordon

[Stone Cold aka Doags Bs]

What's everyone's take on this?

For me it has to be McGregor, if Burley picks Gordon then it is hypocrisy at it's finest.

[The Hitman]

McGregor for me too, Gordon must be lacking match sharpness and therefore shouldn't be risked. Scotland are just fortunate to have two top class keepers (when they are in the correct mindset ofcourse)

[Ninja Mania]

Aye McGregor for me too, he has been outstanding this season keeping Rangers in the title race when they should have been well out of it by now, so he would get my vote for Scotlands number 1. Just like Goram used to be.

[TYM]

I would go with McGregor. Burley has enough problems with other areas of the team without giving himself unnecessary pressure by playing Gordon.

All things being equal, I think Gordon is a better keeper, but they are not equal at the moment. Lack of match sharpness means that Gordon can have no complaints if he has to sit these two out.

Same goes for Alan Hutton. Would love to have a fit Hutton in the team but it is too much of a risk to bring him straight in after one reserve game.

[4th gen Suthen']

I think by his tone, and his words, Burley is going to pick Gordon. "At the end of the day it is me who is paid to make these kind of decisions" he said.

But TYM is right, picking Gordon would put immediate pressure on him and if it went wrong could signal the end.

It is not quite the same as the Boyd situation last October but similar. Burley made the difficult and brave decision to put Iwelemu/Fletcher on before Boyd, it was possibly/probably the right decision but it blew up in spectacular fashion when Iwelemu missed the chance that Boyd would certainly have scored.

He most certainly should pick McGregor and if he is thinking of using Hutton....keep him for the Iceland game. Alexander will defend well in Amsterdam.

[A Horse called Juan Face]

Boyd would certainly have scored.

Can anyone prove that?

Should be the keeper that's getting a game. Simple.

[Sheik Yir Erse]

Would agree with most of the above. Gordon is probably the better all round player, although I think McGregor continues to make improvements. At the start of the year he was having a shocker, but seems to have settled down now and found a bit of form. He had a couple of excellent stops against Hearts.

..... missed the chance that Boyd would certainly have scored.

Would have to agree with Horse's question on that one 4th Gen. As prolific as Mr Boyd is, I take it you've not seen him that much, cos he does miss the odd sitter. One of the ones that springs to mind for me, was the one at the end of the Villareal game - Rangers should have went through that night.

But for a bad miss by substitute Kris Boyd late in the match, the Scottish champions could have secured the victory their irrepressible spirit deserved......... But Boyd, who had replaced Buffel, was even more culpable later, when he completely missed Burke's cross from the right, just three yards from the goal line, in what proved to be the visitors' last genuine chance.

[blueboyno1]

It's an odds on certainty that he will play Gordon ,(it's me who is paid to make the decisions) What he means is it's ma baw an yer no playin.He has already proven that by his attitude towards Boyd .

[Ninja Mania]

What with Gordon in goal, Caldwell and Wier in the back line, an old dads army phrase springs to mind,
Ooooccchhh Wierrr Doomned.

[Ship called Dignity]

Surely it has to be David Marshall?????

With an 8.45pm kick off there could be all three keepers in!

[4th gen Suthen']

I know it cant be proved he would have scored but that is exactly the kind of chance he scores and people just say "lucky so and so" "anyone could have put that in".
No point in speculating now but Burley's brave decision to not take the easy, popular line and put Boyd on looks like the same line of thought that will have Gordon in goal on Saturday.

On another matter. Is the game only on live on Setanta?

[Hume]

I suppose its good that whoever we select in goal we know we have a good keeper.

I can see the reasons for selecting McGregor but I would have no concerns over Gordon - I think the argument about lack of match sharpness is less of an issue for a keeper - it's not as if he is not playing football at all. He was exceptional in a cup tie against Blackburn a few weeks ago after being out injured so I don't think form is an issue. I think the guy that is keeping him out the 1st team is an international too.

I'll still be happy if McGregor plays though.

I'm more worried by some of the outfield players who will probably get a game.

[Hail to the Thief]

Craig Gordon for me. As Hume and Fabio Capello have been saying a lack of match practice isn't as much of a problem with keepers. Gordon is IMO a far superior goalkeeper, and we'll be needing as good as we've got on Saturday. Would be more concerned with the rest of the defence, if McManus doesn't make it then we'll have one very inexperienced centre-half in Barr or more likely Berra, as well as two weak full-backs.

[Sheik Yir Erse]

Really struggled with this......

--------------------------- McGregor -----------------------

Whittaker ------ Caldwell ------- Berra ------ Naysmith

--------------------------- Hartley --------------------------

Fletcher ---------- Brown -------- Ferguson ------- Rae

----------------------------- Miller ----------------------------

Subs: Gordon, Barr, Alexander, Teale, S Fletcher, McCormack

(On the basis that McManus doesn't make it)

There's not much to choose from at the back, or in the midfield, or up front, or on the bench come to think of it.

Infact I think we're fecked!

Teams please?

[Ranald]

--------------------------- Gordon -----------------------

Alexander ------ Caldwell ------- Berra ------ Naysmith

--------------------------- Hartley --------------------------

..........Brown -------- Ferguson -------D Fletcher........

...................................................S Fletcher...

----------------------------- Miller ----------------------------

If Miller is fit. If not, S Fletcher up front and McCormack supporting from the left