posted Oct 27, 2008

Absolutely, totally disagree with the very idea of a Spanish national-team reject being brought into the Scotland squad, just to appease Rangers supporters.

Scottish football is still suffering from a lack of development of talented kids - has everyone forgotten that game in the Faroes under Berti Voughts ??? OK So he had zero management skill, but he wasn't exactly blessed with talent to work with.

So what signal does this send out ? "We can't win games by coaching & developing the natural talent, so we'll bring in 29 yr old Spanish national team rejects, from other countries".

That is a sure-fire way to ensure we don't make it to world cup finals.

Part of the reason the Scottish Premier Division is so far behind the top leagues in Europe is due to the over-priced foreigners (like Novo) who do nothing to help the game and Scottish kids develop.

What we do need is to implement a coaching system from "grass roots" that competes with similar systems that they have in Sweden & Holland, where kids get more time on the ball.

The argument of "Everyone else if bringing in foreign players - so why shouldn't we" is ridiculous. If we have to bend Fifa's rules to win Competitions.. then any results are meaningless. e.g. "They only won, because they brought in ....".

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posted Oct 27, 2008

If you let him in to the national set up, he might just contribute something to the Scottish game. If you treat him as an unequal, why should he?

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posted Oct 27, 2008

International football, played between nations with players from those nations.

Ask Novo if Spain or Scotland is "his" nation and see what his answer is. Is he going to have dual nationality? Will he put down his nationality as Scottish/British as a naturalised Scot? Will he have a British passport? Is he an economic migrant?

Boyd didn't want to play, people castigated him for lack of patriotism and pride in the national jersey. I don't agree with what he did, but he will still have more pride and passion for Scotland than someone from another country. Just how attached/passionate can you get for another country? Surely Spain will always be where his heart is?

Either way if your playing for a nation that's not your home nation then you're not playing international football, you're playing something else.

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posted Oct 28, 2008

This is a tricky one, Whereas i'd always want a Scottish team full of Scots, and im not talking a bunch of Rod Stewarts here. By Scots, people who are born in Scotland or have with relatives at least lived here. Not Scots who born in London live abroad and wear tartan.

However if the likes of English lads, Matt Elliot, Don Hutchison, Neil Sullivan and James Morrison can play for us and in big Dons case score against England then questions have to be asked about how patriotic you can be for an adopted team.
Aiden McGeady plays for Ireland, despite holding a British passport as he feels more Irish. The Irish are fine with that.

The difference may be whereas all previous had links to their country of choice Nacho Novo does not.

Camronesi plays for Italy somewhat controvesially as he really felt Argentina was his 1st choice. However he arguably plays with more passion than half his International team mates.
Unlike a previous poster said (neutralned) Deco had a choice if he was to play for Portugal. As a Brazilian of birth he couldnt be forced. HE chose to play for Portugal who have benifited. Again though these two come from countries with strong links to their now adopted nations.

Germany is a far better example, what with Ghanians like Asamoah, Brazian Kevin Kuranyi and the string of Poles, but no one could question they benefit. France and Holland have been using their colonial muscles for years with the likes of Thuram and Viera, Seedorf and Davids who served France and the Netherlands very well. Croatia have rushed through passports for the likes of Arsenals quality striker Eduardo. So why not us?

When i have ever seen Nacho Novo play for Rangers i have seen a player brimming with enthusiasim. A player proud to play for the shirt. Half the die hard Scots in our team don't show that passion for the National side but I get the feeling if Novo was to be called up and play for Scotland he'd not only add much needed firepower up front but would also be a player who it would hard to imagine lack the needed passion and pride to play for even a 2nd nation.

I read with interest this comment about the subject "to select obvious non-nationals would be both absurd and demeaning" from our English assistant Terry Butcher. Pot calling the kettle black? HE works under George Burley who has never played or managed in Scotland until now.

Personally if theyre good enough, show required commitment (Burleys buzz word) then i would welcome it.

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posted Oct 28, 2008

her big man that makes ur weans roiscots hehe

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posted Oct 28, 2008

look its finnished just ignore novo ever being even good to go to a highr level than lowley rangers so thats that novo for batswana

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posted Oct 28, 2008

quazie is more scotish than those rangers england flagwavers

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posted Oct 28, 2008

talknaboot i workedd stayed in london a flock it geez a job on yir fitba team mate !1

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posted Oct 28, 2008

rediblinker for scotland mnger

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posted Oct 29, 2008

theres only 1 nacho novo!

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