TheChosenOne
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- Dec 13, 2005
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All the great title and cup winners had a Scotsman in the thick of it all, they've gone extinct.
Scottish Football.
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All the great title and cup winners had a Scotsman in the thick of it all, they've gone extinct.
pffft
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- Jul 19, 2013
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The kids up here don't seem to want to play football anymore- for some reason they all want to play basketball or, thanks to Andy Murray, tennis. There are still loads of football (and rugby) pitches about, but you hardly ever see the kids playing on them.
Apart from basketball and tennis, the talented kids seem to be going into athletics or cycling. When you look at where the country's sporting heroes have been coming from over the last 20 odd years, it kind of makes sense, but it's a real shame.
Trix
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- Jul 29, 2004
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Great point who was Scotlands last top drawer player? Last one I can think of Gary Mac. Surely I must have missed some out but I seriously can't think of another one off the top of my head.
When I say top drawer player I mean one that would get into all the top sides in the country on ability, not the likes of Darren Fletcher who was just padding out the Yanited squad, as his top form was never sustained over a period of time.
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pffft
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Don't think there's been anyone this century. Probably Paul McStay or John Collins, or as you say, Gary McAllister.
When you look at their best players since, they include people like David Weir, Scott Brown, Christian Dailly and Gary Caldwell. It's not a great list.
Trix
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Robertson looks like he might get up to that level at least, shame he's in a position that won't really influence the team as a whole to perform above their overall ability level.
pffft
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Yep. Scotland only have 2 decent players at the moment, and they both play left back. Tierney looks like he could become real quality, but who knows how he'll fare if/when he moves to a stronger league.
Only Celtic seem to have a semi-reasonable academy nowadays. Rangers, Hibs, Hearts, Aberdeen- they just aren't producing good players any more. I'm sure there's still talent out there, but the clubs/SFA need to do a lot more to get the kids interested in playing football again and they need to do it very quickly. I'm not at all optimistic that it will happen.
TheChosenOne
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It's over 20 years since Gordon Strachan hung up his boots.
TheChosenOne
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RichieS
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That's the one. Good work, especially given that I got both teams wrong!
werty
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Harsh on Fletcher. He did a lot more than just pad out United's team. He was very good for a few seasons and was entering his prime before his got his illness.
Sid Tottenham
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I have a theory on why Scotland don't produce brilliant players anymore, it's too fucking cold the kids nowadays can replicate their heroes in the comfort and warmth of their bedrooms playing FIFA.
They've all gone soft, just a theory but since the rise of video games they ain't produced anyone well not anyone in the same league as the 60s and 70s early 80s player.
Same to some extent here I guess I was out playing every night any weather cos there was fuck all else to do if I had a playstation I woulda been on that
Not that in made it as a footballer although I was superb (last bits a joke I thought I better make that clear although I'd probably make west hams team now and I'm pushing 50)
They've all gone soft, just a theory but since the rise of video games they ain't produced anyone well not anyone in the same league as the 60s and 70s early 80s player.
Same to some extent here I guess I was out playing every night any weather cos there was fuck all else to do if I had a playstation I woulda been on that
Not that in made it as a footballer although I was superb (last bits a joke I thought I better make that clear although I'd probably make west hams team now and I'm pushing 50)
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Neon_Knight_
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I would say the ever widening gulf in finances is the reason that Scottish football isn't keeping up with the top leagues. Most English Championships teams are richer that Scottish Premiership teams!
Sid Tottenham
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Yeah that as well but that doesn't explain why they haven't produced a Mackay Dalglish Souness Etc for getting on 30/40 odd years. The huge money disparity has only really been there since the premier league started. Think to some extent there's always been more money in the English game but as you say it's huge now and only getting bigger.
I guess what I mean and it's not just Scotland is you don't really really see kids playing football on the streets anymore.
If that was actually affecting things you would expect the best youngsters to be playing for the Academies of the PL teams and you don't.
Trix
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Maybe, but did he ever do anymore than say Nicky Butt or Jonny Evans did? I'm not saying he wasn't a good player, but was he a player coveted by other top European sides? Maybe his injury cut him down prior to him being as good as he could be, but there were plenty around him that were top class players which is the point I was making.
TheChosenOne
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Following on from Dave Mackay and Alan Gilzean it seemed we always wanted the flamboyant players, such as Alfie Conn, John Duncan and Steve Archibald to name a few.
Bearing in mind there was very little European or S.American transfer traffic until the 1980's
Bearing in mind there was very little European or S.American transfer traffic until the 1980's
werty
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He was more important than them, though I think you're doing Butt a disservice too. Fletcher was a regular starter for a couple of seasons the last time United were continuously going far in Europe. He even go into the Premier League team of the Season one year.
