egafd.com

Yeah that's true.

All you hear now.

Money.

Money.

Money.

I'm totally sick of it.

Go to Parkhead or Ibrox and look at the squalor that people are living right next door.

Something seriously wrong there.

Deadly

v. interesting stuff - but it still doesn't explain why there's such a dearth of home grown talent. where are the denis laws and ally mccoists of the future? if countries with lesser footballing traditions such as wales and ireland (no disrespect intended) can produce the likes of keane, duff, etc why can't scotland?

Some countries do have immense talent, and the home-countries do have a few world class players, but the league in England is where they ply their trade. It was nice to see some Welsh players play in small clubs like Cardiff last night. But yer Speed's, Gigg's and Bellamys will play here and not there.

Sorry Woody, mine was based on Welsh and not Scottish league, didn't read it thoroughly enough

Woodgnome,

I think the goldfishbowl mentality of Scotland is to blame. You often only see the best of a young Scottish player when he goes up against Rangers or Celtic when they know people are watching and they are in the shop window. The papers have little to write about up here so they will really kick the arse out of reporting on an up and coming player instead of leaving them to get on with learning their trade. I think for some this goes to there head and they think they are a better player than what they are - Mark Burchill is a typical example of this.

We haven't produced any flair players for a long time. I think that is the worst part. Ferguson and Lambert are both quality players from recent times but not the kind of dramatic headlinemakers like Law and that little shit off of question of sport you mention. You need players like that and it's what we don't have anymore.

What ever happened to the fiery wee red headed Scottish narks?


Deadly

In answer to Woodgnome's question, a lot of the blame lies with the spending ethos of the late 1980s and 1990s. Why carefully nurture the talent of a young Scottish player when you can buy the finished article from the continent?

Ace's point is also well made. A player from a provincial club that plays well against the Old Firm (and particularly Rangers) will be bought by the forces of darkness, and believe their career is taking off---only to spend the next year with their arses glued to the subs bench. I cite Kenny Miller, Billy Dodds, Neil McCann, Steven Thompson.

Steven Thomson LOL!!!!!!!!

I saw an article in the Metro the other day

Quote:

"While Thomson might not yet be in Van Nistelrooy's class......"

Not yet????

No and never will be either.

Deadly

what indeed? i recall when almost every team in the then first division had at least two or three pre-eminent scots on their books. those days are now gone forever it would seem and this will eventually show itself in the managerial domain, as well.

as ace rightly points out, the english leagues have benefited greatly down the years from the stewardship of numerous north-of-the-borderites but when the time comes for the likes of ferguson, souness, strachan et al to step down, there simply won't be anyone to take their place.

it may be of some consolation though (to those of a greenish hue, at least) that the celtic connection will in all likelihood continue, albeit with a more shamrocky brogue.

Kenny Dalglish is one player who served his two clubs with total commitment. The finest striker of his time, I used to marvel at his goals watching him for Liverpool in 1978-1979. If he was playing at his prime now, bet you'd get ?30m for him.
Others are mentioned, Strachan and Souness. But some 'overlooked' include Hanson (Ok, I HAVE to mention him) John Robertson (Forest 77) Gordon McQueen (Man Utd) Charlie Nicholas (Arsenal) Joe Jordan (Man Utd) Archie Gemmill (Forest and scorer of the finest goal in Argentina '78 against eventual finalists, Holland) but lately I can only think of 'Big' Duncan Ferguson at Everton who 'stands out'.
A pity IMO, as it seems 10-15 years ago, EVERY team in Englands top flight had a couple of Scots, now they are few and far between.
Another thing, I NEVER once saw an idle Scottish player in any team, they were grafters and something todays players could do well to observe

sorry, overlooked David, a Chelsea player who was a VERY under-rated player. Watched him at Coventry City and he was a diamond in a pile of cow shit.