posted Sep 12, 2007

SensibleTed,

My feelings are a mixture of disagreement and total agreement. As a United fan, I don't think you can ever accuse Fletcher of "not being bothered". He did get caught at times on Saturday but then again, he does play for one of the best teams in the world and lets be honest, he doesn't have the passing options for Scotland than he does at United. Also, he solely crafted the first goal for us. Saturday was the first real mistake I've seen him make, but then again, he didn't touch the boy - merely gave him the opportunity to cheat. That's hardly a 'mistake'. His reputation at United has nothing to do with his selection - he deserves to be high up the pecking order in that team, certainly above Barry Ferguson who decided to be a big fish in a small pond and move back to Rangers.

Spot on about David Weir. He has been one of our best defenders, but surely you can see he is starting to creak, just like Hendry and Dailly before him. If we're going to talk about mistakes, recently, he costs us a goal against Georgia for being painfully slow. That's not to say I don't like him, he's been excellent for us. However, we've got to look at players like Anderson (criminally overlooked because he's a Don). Credit to him but I think it's about time we looked at someone else. That said, he's a fantastic professional and it's McLeish's job to realise his flaws, not his.

I also would like to see Robson tonight, maybe not Severin but he's certainly up there vying for a place.

I'll be happy tonight though because I'm sure we're gonna give it everything. If we don't concede early, I can see us nicking something. I hope I'm not tempting fate but over the past year (probably since the Kirin Cup), I've had this feeling that this squad is going places. Probably a feeling I've never in my life felt with Scotland.

C'mon Scotland!!!!

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posted Sep 12, 2007

I dont understand how people can call for the likes o f Severin, Robson et al to have more of an influence in the Scotland squad. These players do not consistently play European football(Robson never) and that is why they done get as much game time. Playing in Europe gives players the tactical nous to step up to the international level hence the Huttons etc getting into the squad.

As for one commentator who said that Davie Weir is a liabilty?? Do u watch Scotland or Rangers games? He may not have ther pace of a Ferdinand but he more than makes up for it with his posiotional sense and reading of the game.

People need to stop thinking there is a conspiracy that primarily Old Firm players get picked just fr being at the Old Firm. They get picked beacuse the Old Firm generally buy the better players plus they are regularly play in Europe...

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posted Sep 12, 2007

Real Madrid wanting Fletcher??? Ahaha!! Thats hilarious! ... allmost as hilarious as the fact that he can't even get into the starting 11 at Man United!

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posted Sep 12, 2007

From a Frenchman (living in UK)

I think France will qualify and I really really hope that Scotland make it as the other qualifier from the group.

I don't know enough about Fletch to comment but I think he is better than he is given credit for.

As for tonight, I do fear for you as I think it could be a big scoreline (something like 4 or 5 - 0 to France) and I hope that if it happens, it doesn't break Scotland for the rest of the campaign.

Whatever happens, you have a good young team with good propects and hopefully your ranking will go up and improve your chances of a better group next time cos let's face it this group is tough.

But if Italy don't beat Ukraine (in Ukraine) today, who knows.....



I'll come back on tomorrow and you can all laugh at me is Scotland get a result.

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posted Sep 12, 2007

I agree about european experience being helpful going into international games but how many players don't have any or have very little european experience in the current squad.

Gordon
Alexander
Anderson
McEveley
Brown
Robson
McFadden (arguably our best player)
O'Conner (given he's played in a different culture)

It's not the be all and end all, and if someone deserves their chance then it doesn't really matter. Christian Dailly's never had much european experience throughout his career but he got his chance in the Scotland setup and has probably performs better for Scotland than at club level.

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posted Sep 12, 2007

Scot Severin?!!! Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah. this guy has me in stiches!

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posted Sep 12, 2007

No doubt you've seen him play as much as you've seen his name spelled correctly!

Severin would anchor the midfield much better than Caldwell could tonight... and actually be able to play some football when the ball lands at his feet.

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posted Sep 12, 2007

Spot on about the experience in Europe and this ridiculous old firm conspiracy.

The old firm dominate the league because they have better players who have experience of the champions league. Therefore it makes sense to pick players from the old firm. IT's not really rocket science. When Aberdeen and Killie get to the last 16 of CL then they can start to fill up the Scotland team.

I find it hilarious that people have been slating Alexander for the last couple of seasons but as soon as a credible replacement (Hutton) comes along he is ripped apart as only being there as he's a Rangers player. What a lot of crap, Hutton is the best RB in the SPL that is why he is there!

And don't even get me started with this Ferguson nonsense. He didn't fail in England, he was club captain and Mark Hughes was begging him to stay, he went home because he was homesick, simple as that. He is Scotland's best midfielder and is better than Fletcher. He has far more composure and doesn't try and play crazy passes every single time he has the ball. Scott Brown is a great prospect but for me is not ready for this level. He looked out of his depth for much of saturday's match. He can beat a man great but there is far more required at this level. He rarely tracked back and was never available for a pass from defence. One for the future sure but people placing him above Ferguson in the pecking order ought to have their heads checked.

Totally agree with about Davie Weir, great servant of late, although I disagreed with his reasons for leaving the national team for a few years. Wee Bertie was spot on with his comments about conceding to the Faroes, anyway. Would you rather have the McManus and Anderson combination that struggled it's way through the SA game playing together away from home against France, it will get torn apart. Weir has been brilliant since he joined Rangers and is going to pass a lot on to Webster. Just wait til he retires and see how poor our defence becomes.

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posted Sep 12, 2007

I'm not saying there's a conspiracy but unless a player plays for the OF they don't get any credit for playing well. Once they move to the old firm it's much easier for the manager to call them up without getting slated. It's the same old, unless you play in the Permiership you can't be any good, or unless you've played for the old firm you can't be any good. Just get them picked if they're playing well. Severin was probably Aberdeen's best player last season, and they came third, yet never got much of a look in.

Hats off to McLeish for playing Scott Brown before his move to Celtic and you saw how well he played in Italy. However, it almost proves my point because it was after he was linked heavily with the OF he actually got his call up.

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posted Sep 12, 2007

Erm well if we look at Fletchers record against Viera one of the best midfielders in the world then well first of all he outplayed viera for united when he was 19. Then he out played him again twice in the 2005 season especially in the FA cup final although Arsenal won, no one who knows anything about football can say united didn't deserve to win. Plus he was excellent against Viera and Makalale for Scotland in your home game. So maybe Viera will be a bit worried.

I really can't understand why people still think hes average. Hes proven himself against some of the worlds elite many times. Hes got undoubted ability and unlike many footballers who are more concerned with their individual performances Fletcher is one of the rare players that actually sacrafices his play for the team. He works for the team. the likes of Ronaldo, lampard etc get the headlines but it is the players like Fletcher who make the team tick.

Fletcher has more ability then people give him credit for and he is rated by alot of pople in football. Fletchers biggest problem is not his ability it is his confidence. He doesn't assert himsself enough. For united he needs to go forward more and attack and try more dangerous passing.

For Scotland he is usually excellent. Most attacks start with him, he defends well, and simply constantly performs well and gives 100%. Its not always easy for him as he doesn't always play regularily for united but he always has some impact in games.

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