Diesel Posted October 13, 2008 Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 Well, I'd rather have boring football taking us to Euro 96 and France 98 and then an exciting play off with England than "glorious failure" under Smith and McLeish, although thinking about it their 4-5-1 system wasn't exactly total football either.Lets face it, we're never going to have a squad of superstars, and if life gives you lemons, make lemonade, that's what Brown did.A fair point well made - and that's the dichotomy : to the punter, is football about success or entertainment?I quit playing when I stopped enjoying it - that and my knees were fucked! - even though my club at the time were doing well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christy Posted October 13, 2008 Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 Aye, what are we after here? Results or performances? Cannae have it all. Under Walter Smith we were miserable to watch but had some good results. Same goes for McLeish. Come to think of it, same goes for Calderwood at Pittodrie. Love from CHristy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swingin' Ryan Posted October 13, 2008 Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 Does anybody else think George Burley looks exactly like Brian Cox dressed as Alan Partridge for a fancy dress party? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigsby Posted October 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Does anybody else think George Burley looks exactly like Brian Cox dressed as Alan Partridge for a fancy dress party?Just without any "Back of the net". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeanette Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Back to club matters...SFA End Search For New Cup Sponsor (from The Herald ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossP Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 SPORTING LIFE'S TAKE ON BOYD: Which is as good as i've read on the matter BOYD DECISION SUMS UP ATTITUDEE-mail Article Print-Friendly Subscribe to RSS Feed Post to del.icio.us FacebookBy Gareth FrielGeorge Burley has endured a torrid 10 months since taking over as Scotland boss from Alex McLeish in January.Three friendly games without a win - against Croatia, Czech Republic and Northern Ireland - were followed by a 1-0 defeat to Macedonia in Scotland's opening World Cup qualifier.And although that was followed four days later by a 2-1 win in Iceland, Saturday's 0-0 draw at home to Norway means it is extremely unlikely the Tartan Army will be making the long journey to South Africa in 2010.The former Hearts and Southampton boss has been unlucky in many ways with injuries and suspensions - Stephen McManus, Alan Hutton, Barry Ferguson and Kenny Miller were all missing from the side which faced Norway.And had Chris Iwelumo put away that chance on his international debut at Hampden we may have been hailing a masterstroke by Burley.But such are the margins between success and failure at the top level that many are calling for his head after just three competitive games in charge.And although the initial media reaction to Kris Boyd's refusal to play under him again will add to his woes in the short term, in the long run it won't unduly bother him.Had I been in Burley's position on Saturday, I would have brought on Boyd before either Iwelumo or Steven Fletcher, in fact I'd have started with a 4-4-2 formation and would certainly not have played James McFadden as a lone striker, but that's another debate.However, the reasons for Burley deciding to bring on Iwelumo and Fletcher ahead of the Rangers striker are easy to understand.Both players can control, pass, hold the ball up and do all the basics better than Boyd, who is a fantastic goalscorer but has almost nothing else to his game.Arguments rage on a weekly basis between Rangers fans - 'should Boyd play given that all he does is score goals?'...'Yes, goals are what win games'.But when the goals dry up, as they have done recently, Boyd offers almost nothing.He has scored only twice in open play in the SPL since the beginning of March and on that sort of form could possibly be regarded as lucky to have even made Burley's squad for Norway.Iwelumo has eight goals this season for Wolves while Fletcher has impressed time and time again for the Under-21s so it's easy to see Burley's thinking.So for Boyd to publically declare he will never play for Scotland under Burley again should mean he is never considered for the national team ever again regardless of who is boss.After all Burley is only following every manager Boyd has had since leaving Kilmarnock. McLeish, Paul Le Guen and Walter Smith, whether at club or international level, have not trusted Boyd in the big games.Under McLeish, the man who signed him for Rangers, Boyd netted seven goals in his first six games before being benched for home games against Celtic and Villarreal in the Champions League last-16 first leg.And despite two goals in his next two league games he was again left out of the starting XI for the away leg in Spain.Le Guen, despite the various media reports that he was unhappy with Boyd, actually started him in more 'big' games than not but did suggest on a number of occasions that the striker had to buck up his ideas if he was to star at the focal point of his 4-3-3 formation.Under Smith, it has got worse for Boyd.Last season, the 25-year-old was an unused substitue in 13 of Rangers' 17 European matches and didn't even take to the field in any of the four Old Firm meetings - a damning indictment.But the argument goes that Rangers can afford to start with Boyd in SPL games against anyone but Celtic as he is almost guaranteed to get goals.Even that's not quite true - Boyd has started just five away SPL games in over a year and Smith seems to be of the view that Boyd is a luxury he can only afford at Ibrox as long as the oppostion are not European or Celtic. The frustrating thing is Boyd still has an amazing goalscoring record.He has seven goals in 15 caps for Scotland - James McFadden has 13 in 41 - and his average at club level of around one in two means he is the second-highest scorer since the SPL began in 1998-99, only behind Henrik Larsson.That is why Rangers and Scotland fans become so infuriated over the issue.Boyd is blessed with an incredible ability to be in the right place in the right time and has a natural prowess to put the ball in the back of the net that many top strikers in European football would be envious of.But he appears to have shown almost no desire to improve his all-round game which could potentially turn him into a superstar.Not one part of his game has developed since moving to Ibrox. His link-up play is still poor, he tends to give free-kicks away in any aerial challenge outside the box, he continually gifts the ball back to the opposition and more often than not looks unfit.What a hard-working, intelligent forward like Kenny Miller or Dirk Kuyt would give for a fraction of Boyd's ability in front of goal.At the age of 25, Boyd looks like he will waste what could be an outstanding career. It's no exaggerration to say if he really wanted to he could become one of the best strikers Scotland has ever produced.Hard work and a willingness to learn could see him become a record scorer for both club and country and he doesn't even need to look far for inspiration.His club team-mate Kirk Broadfoot was brought to Rangers from St Mirren in the summer of 2007 as a back-up centre-half but due to the sale of Alan Hutton was pitched in at right-back for much of the second half of last season.Despite a shaky start, Broadfoot has gone on to start a UEFA Cup final, won two caps for Scotland and has become almost a cult-hero to fans who doubted him, much of it down to extra training sessions at Murray Park.If Broadfoot can make the most of his ability in an unnatural position, surely Boyd can improve himself and become a decent all-round striker?It seems he's not interested in doing so. It may have only been a fun interview on Soccer AM but it was telling to see Darren Fletcher describe Boyd as Scotland's worst trainer.Since moving to Rangers, Boyd's game has not improved in any significant way and now instead of responding to being snubbed by Burley by knuckling down, scoring goals week in, week out and ensuring he cannot be overlooked next time, he's taken the easy, lazy way out.When the much-ridiculed Filip Sebo started at Celtic Park in front of him or when Lee McCulloch, a midfielder, was preferred for the central striking role in last season's CIS Cup semi-final against Hearts, did Boyd throw the toys out of the pram and question Smith's judgement in public?Of course he didn't because he knows he would be chased all way back to Ayrshire by the Rangers fans, not to mention Smith himself.Sadly this decision just about sums up a player who will surely go down in history as another in the long line of Scottish players who failed to make the mostof his ability.And he will only have himself to blame.Every day of the week he trains alongside a man he has often been compared to in Ally McCoist. If Rangers' all-time goalscorer can't convince Boyd to get his act together, no-one will.So while the media attention surrounding the 'retirement' may lead to a few uncomfortable days for Burley, Boyd's absence from the rest of the World Cup qualifying campaign will have no bearing on Scotland's fate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
get lost Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Correct, but he would have still score "that" chance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest idol_wild Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Correct, but he would have still score "that" chance!Probably.That is assuming he possessed the workrate to get himself into such a position off the ball, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossP Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Lets face it. Boyd probably just fancies a few saturdays off a year so he can go out on the lash with his mates, as he's essentially training for free with Scotland (unless they qualify). I wasn't aware of how bad his record is in the SPL from open play and am amazed at how few games he plays away from home. Really needs to pull his finger out, but doubt we'll see it happening. Hate to imagine how out of shape he'd get if he got a John Kennedy or Stevie Naismith-esque injury; there'd be no full recovery from that i'd imagine.Onwards and upwards though... Argentina next month Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 I agree with all of that except.."intelligent forward like Kenny Miller "Hard-working, yes - intelligent? no! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossP Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Correct, but he would have still score "that" chance!Like he did with this open goal...Scotland 2-1 Georgia Qualification for the Euro 2008 championship was always going to be difficult, with Scotland being drawn in the same group as France and Italy. Victory simply had to be achieved in home matches against more modest opposition like Georgia. In the second half Boyd hit the bar with an awkward volley and moments later ended up in the Georgia net, having taken a fresh-air swipe at the back post from an inviting cross from Gary Naysmith. For such a prolific striker, it was an astonishing miss. It seemed all he had to do was let the ball bounce off his right foot. Instead, Boyd went for power...and missed completely. He was soon replaced by Craig Beattie, who scored the winner with two minutes remaining. Boyd is a pie and i'm glad he's shown his true colours. Chris Iwelumo had shown in interviews how much playing in a Scotland jersey means to him and put in a fantastic performance on saturday considering it was his debut and hadn't played competitively for 3 weeks. His link up play was excellent and overall movement was great. Unlucky with the chance, but he'll bounce back from it.Cheerio Boyd, try not to get splinters from that Rangers bench. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
french_disko Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Onwards and upwards though... Argentina next month I can't decide whether I can be arsed going to Glasweegee on a Wednesday night for this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossP Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 I can't decide whether I can be arsed going to Glasweegee on a Wednesday night for this.To get there I'll have to finish work at 2.55pm... catch the supporters bus at 3pmish... go to the game... get supporters bus back (try to sleep)... back in Abdn city centre at stupid o'clock in the morning and hope there are taxis... get about 2-3 hours sleep at home... then work all day.I'll probably regret it, but it'll also probably be another generation until Scotland play Argentina again. Chance to see Aguero, Riquelme et al in the flesh as well. Shame about Messi nae playing, but there'll be other chances to see him if I hop over to Barcelona for a long weekend sometime in the next year or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
french_disko Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 I'll probably regret it, but it'll also probably be another generation until Scotland play Argentina again. Chance to see Aguero, Riquelme et al in the flesh as well. Shame about Messi nae playing, but there'll be other chances to see him if I hop over to Barcelona for a long weekend sometime in the next year or so.Nae Messi and nae, er, Kris BoydErm.... haud on a second...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossP Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Nae Messi and nae, er, Kris BoydErm.... haud on a second......Tickets on sale to supporters club members just now. I bought our 5 last week a day or 2 before the Norway game... and as a result am now completely skint until I chase up money from folk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christy Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Correct, but he would have still score "that" chance!Of course. So would you and I. And so would Chris Iwelumo almost every time. Fuck, even Kirk Clubfoot would've scored it. It was a freak miss, Boyd or no Boyd . I don't think anyone can use Iwelumo's miss as an argument for picking Boyd; there is absolutely no legislating for bizarre misses such as that. Love from Christy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scorge Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Back to the proper football on Saturday then.Dunfermline on Saturday for me. Not optimistic, because a) we are shite, and b) we haven't won at EEP since I was a nubile sperm (ish). Out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swingin' Ryan Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Back to the proper football on Saturday then.Dunfermline on Saturday for me. Not optimistic, because a) we are shite, and b) we haven't won at EEP since I was a nubile sperm (ish). Out!Raith away for Ayr on Saturday, I'd be happy with a draw if it wasn't for the sickening feeling Brechin will do the same with Stirling keeping us that one point behind them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nev Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Beast Fife at Balmoor for us. Hoping Ryan's draw is correct so we would move back up to third Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuartmaxwell Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 scumbarton with our under 19s coach taking charge. very nervous. scum have been hitting form recently. then huntly then stenny (the big one) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossP Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 I've got a fair few folk coming round to mine for pies and booze on saturday for the ICT v. Celtic game. Unfortunately most visitors are Celtic fans... so i'm hoping for a similar result/performance as our 3-2 win last year to piss them off... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkaline Posted October 15, 2008 Report Share Posted October 15, 2008 Bye Bye Eddie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Mac Posted October 15, 2008 Report Share Posted October 15, 2008 RIP Eddie. Put a lot of hard work and effort into United over the years. Not to mention money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuartmaxwell Posted October 15, 2008 Report Share Posted October 15, 2008 give me eddie thomson over any of those fatcat football investors anyday. passion over money anytime.bye Eddie, you did yourself and your team proud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Posted October 15, 2008 Report Share Posted October 15, 2008 Back to the proper football on Saturday then.Dunfermline on Saturday for me. Not optimistic, because a) we are shite, and b) we haven't won at EEP since I was a nubile sperm (ish). Out!We've got the jobless, dosser Steelmen at the Theatre of Pies on Saturday.Hoping for, but not expecting, a win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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