Scotland International Football Team

[smange]

So after another pretty ordinary performance under the stewardship of Craig Levein it already looks like its going to be a long and arduous qualifying campaign which will end in non-qualification, (no I never thought we would qualify before today either) when is someone going to tell us why Craig Levein is still in the managers job?

I still do not know why he got the job in the first place, I mean what previous success has he had at management level which convinced the SFA that he was the man?

Kenny Miller has never been an international standard striker but yet we persist with him, today he was an absolute waste of space and looked shattered at half time yet Levein left him on the pitch until the 80th minute while Jordan Rhodes (46 goals in last 47 games) was left twiddling his thumbs.

Gary Caldwell has played all his career at centre half yet Levein all of a sudden thinks he is an international standard holding midfielder.

Charlie Adam gave the ball away nearly every time he got it but lasted the whole match

Allan Hutton cant get in an awful Aston Villa team and hasnt kicked a ball in anger recently but is put straight into the Scotland team.

Add in the nonsense recently about Levein saying he couldnt pick a certain Rangers player while he was playing in the 3rd division yet he named another in his squad.

Also the recent statement from him saying that the international door is closed to Steven Fletcher (the most expensive ever Scottish player who is arguably playing at the highest level of the whole squad) due to some previous arguement which Fletcher is prepared to sit down and talk about but Levein just refuses.

After all that can someone explain to me why he is managing my country??? He wasnt the man the fans wanted so the SFA cant use that feeble excuse.

Is it just me or do any of my fellow countrymen feel the same?

 

[stevek1969]

Totally agree mate, Hutton is rank rotten and can't get a game in a shocking Villa team, Miller plays in the retirement league that is the MLS about time he showed some baws and played Rhodes and Mackie from the start.

For me Dixon was MOM solid display from the young full back.

 

[Essex_Stu]

Scotland have a football team??????














Only joking, dont shoot me!!!

 

[Fraz]

Totally agree mate, Hutton is rank rotten and can't get a game in a shocking Villa team, Miller plays in the retirement league that is the MLS about time he showed some baws and played Rhodes and Mackie from the start.

For me Dixon was MOM solid display from the young full back.

This.

We Could have a good team if that nugget picked the best players available...and played them in their best positions... Come back Bertie Vogts, all is forgiven... Lol

 

[smange]

Scotland have a football team??????

Wondered how long it would take for a smartarse comment from an Englander

And yes we do have a football team and you know what?

Its a piss poor team but at least we know that and admit it instead of hiding behind a world cup win from nearly fifty years ago and thinking we are world beaters.

The Scottish National team for years punched above its weight and its only now in recent years that we have found out natural level. We are a small country with a small population so how on earth are we going to produce an all conquering team?

All we as fans ask is that the best available players are picked and only when they are playing well for their clubs, as it should be with International football.

In my opinion this isnt happening under the current management team and its time Levein was under pressure from the SFA to deliver performances.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

I was giving Levien a fair chance up till he picked a Div 3 player to represent Scotland.
Miller is past his sell by and was not too good in the first place.
VERY predictable tactics in his last few games.
Mind you, one loss [to Spain] in the last eight games at Hampden is not shabby.

 

[granters]

I'm at my witts end with levein,spent the last 3 days boasting about his 9 forwards and yet again plays one up front against a limited side,at home. So utterly frustrating,same old story and can't see us qualifying as we need every point we can get at home. We need someone with imagination and flair to manage us,levein is beyond predictable

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think you need to win the home matches so not a good start. There were some talented players not playing and so if you can nick a few points on the road you may still have a squeek. I think finishing second and taking your chances in the play-offs would be a good result

 

[GreiginFife]

I was giving Levien a fair chance up till he picked a Div 3 player to represent Scotland.

Did he really? Come on, do you really believe that a player good enough to play in the SPL for 4/5 years who finds himself in the 3rd division because of circumstances out side of his control (and in one fell swoop too, not gradually slipping through the league levels) is not good enough?
I mean, yeah the jibes and fun poking at the The Rangers situation has been a good laugh but if you really believe what you just said then you have bitten in to the media and hatred hype just a bit too much IMO, either that or you know nowt about the game (and I don't believe that's the case).

 

[thecraw]

When Avril went 4-6-0 last year he should have been bundled into a taxi and told never to darken the doors of Hampden Park again. He is a clueless fool and Billy Davies with that squad would work wonders.

Avril is a media darling and God only knows why. He has won a 3rd division championship with the Blue Brazil and thats his whack! His football he serves up is a disgrace. Get him out the door fast.

 

[NWJocko]

When Avril went 4-6-0 last year he should have been bundled into a taxi and told never to darken the doors of Hampden Park again. He is a clueless fool and Billy Davies with that squad would work wonders.

Avril is a media darling and God only knows why. He has won a 3rd division championship with the Blue Brazil and thats his whack! His football he serves up is a disgrace. Get him out the door fast.

Amen.

Levein is an utter tit.

 

[bladeplayer]

Do ye want Trapatoni ? ye can have him . honestly .. Al we needed was Borat to show up to complete the farce ... but hey a win is a win .......................................... seemingly.(wheres that bloody sadfacesmiley)

 

[chris661]

Did he really? Come on, do you really believe that a player good enough to play in the SPL for 4/5 years who finds himself in the 3rd division because of circumstances out side of his control (and in one fell swoop too, not gradually slipping through the league levels) is not good enough?
I mean, yeah the jibes and fun poking at the The Rangers situation has been a good laugh but if you really believe what you just said then you have bitten in to the media and hatred hype just a bit too much IMO, either that or you know nowt about the game (and I don't believe that's the case).

Outside of his control? They all had a chance to walk away when the old rangers died. It was only the fact they knew they would never get the same money elsewhere.

As for Scotland it is a joke and frankly an embarrassment for Levein to be able to continue but I suppose he is cheap....

 

[smange]

Did he really? Come on, do you really believe that a player good enough to play in the SPL for 4/5 years who finds himself in the 3rd division because of circumstances out side of his control (and in one fell swoop too, not gradually slipping through the league levels) is not good enough?
I mean, yeah the jibes and fun poking at the The Rangers situation has been a good laugh but if you really believe what you just said then you have bitten in to the media and hatred hype just a bit too much IMO, either that or you know nowt about the game (and I don't believe that's the case).

Its not about whether the guy was good enough or not.

The fact is Levein stated it would be impossible to pick a player who was playing in the 3rd division due to the standard of football he would be playing, which is perfectly acceptable, but he then went on to name another Rangers player in his squad and only through public pressure did he not play him.

The man is an arse and the sooner he goes the better. The only people who will be sad to see him go are the bookies where he seems to spend most of his time and wages.

 

[GreiginFife]

Outside of his control? They all had a chance to walk away when the old rangers died. It was only the fact they knew they would never get the same money elsewhere.

As for Scotland it is a joke and frankly an embarrassment for Levein to be able to continue but I suppose he is cheap....

They had the chance after the fact Chris is what I meant. Whether they stayed or not is erse all to do with their ability. But lets not let that get in the way of a good bit of hating.
For the record I care not much for either bigot brother.

Smange, Good point well made. I know what you mean. All I was questioning was whether the statement was about ability rather than the level being played at or if too many peoples hatred for the rangers gets in the way.

 

[chris661]

They had the chance after the fact Chris is what I meant. Whether they stayed or not is erse all to do with their ability. But lets not let that get in the way of a good bit of hating.
For the record I care not much for either bigot brother.

Who mentioned hating? Is that chip on your shoulder big enough?

 

[GreiginFife]

Who mentioned hating? Is that chip on your shoulder big enough?

Chip on my shoulder..ha guid one. But naw. Your diskike of anything or anyone connected to the Rangers is self evident from your post above assuming greed as the determiner and your posts on the other thread.
I on the other hand dont reallly care about either OF side and was asking about ability rather than motive. How that puts me in the chip category must be something that only OF fans understand.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Did he really? Come on, do you really believe that a player good enough to play in the SPL for 4/5 years who finds himself in the 3rd division because of circumstances out side of his control (and in one fell swoop too, not gradually slipping through the league levels) is not good enough?
I mean, yeah the jibes and fun poking at the The Rangers situation has been a good laugh but if you really believe what you just said then you have bitten in to the media and hatred hype just a bit too much IMO, either that or you know nowt about the game (and I don't believe that's the case).

Greig, It was because he had previously said that he would not pick Wallace as he was playing in a lower league.
To be honest he probably could have done with him last night!
I rate Black quite highly, funny how he was not picked when he shone for ICT.

 

[GreiginFife]

Greig, It was because he had previously said that he would not pick Wallace as he was playing in a lower league.
To be honest he probably could have done with him last night!
I rate Black quite highly, funny how he was not picked when he shone for ICT.

Fair enough. I am of the opinion if the player has the ability they should be playing. I dont really care who or where they play just that they can do a job for my country.

 

[alnecosse]

I would like to have seen Miller and Rhodes play together, to be fair Millar never got much service as our final ball was mince all game, I think at home we should be playing with 2 strikers and as Avril says weve got 9 so why not get some of them on park. New campaign but more of the same, the playing without a striker against the czechs finished me with Levein he made the national side a laughing stock,at the time the czechs were very poor and there for the taking.