IT SAYS a lot for Craig Gordon, that in the build-up to Saturday night's great win over Ireland, he had to temporarily leave the Scotland camp to be with his partner, Summer, as she was safely delivered off the couple's son Axel. Gordon then rejoined the squad and, on the occasion of his 72nd cap, produced a stunning late save to keep us ahead and on the road to victory.
For my money, big Craig is up there on the top shelf of Scotland keepers, he might even be the best we've ever had, but, I wonder – being in a deliver room overnight before a game is maybe not the best preparation for a crucial international. Maybe, had he not retired from international football, David Marshall might have got the call for the Irish game, to enable Craig to spend more time with Axel and his Mum. However, for such an important game, and with no other capped 'keeper in the squad, well, Craig I suppose had to face the Irish.
With the introduction of the UEFA Nations League, there are fewer games in which, without the pressure of group points to be protected, managers such as Stevie Clarke can introduce and try-out newcomers.
The back-up 'keepers to Gordon are:
Jon McLaughlin (Rangers) – aged 35, two caps
Robbie McCrorie (Rangers) – aged 24, uncapped
Liam Kelly (Motherwell) – aged 26, uncapped
McLaughlin and McCrorie are currently playing second and third-choice to the 40 year old Allan McGregor at their club, while Kelly had to leave Rangers to get any first-team game time at all.
The great Jimmy Cowan's Scotland career was over, after 25 caps, at aged 26. Wembley Wizard Jack Harkness was another to have won all 12 of his Scotland caps by aged 26. Bobby Ferguson, the most-expensive goalkeeper in the world when he left Kilmarnock for West Ham, won his seven Scottish caps between the ages of 21 and 22. This shows, Scotland has never been too-sure about our goalkeepers. We've perhaps been lucky in having McGregor, Gordon and Marshall all playing at the same time, but, what happens if Gordon is hit by a Lothian Transport bus? Isn't it time we blooded a potential young successor?
I accept it would be difficult to slot it into an already crowded football calendar, but, I have long had an idea which I think would help our international team. Why not bring back the Home Internationals?
Full-blown internationals would, I think, be out of the question, but, surely, given television's seemingly insatiable appetite for football, we could sell the notion of a revised Home Championship? What I would do is revise the eligibility criteria – perhaps go down the Olympic Games route, and insist the squads had to primarily be made-up of Under-23 players.
Finding a slot or slots might be difficult, but, I don't see this as an insurmountable problem and it might be worth-while taking the games to smaller stadia, away from Hampden, Wembley etc.
I dare say, the English could, potentially, think themselves above such nonsense, in which case, I am sure Ireland would like to come in – after all, the short-lived Vauxhall Tournament, which was a Celtic nations only concept, looked promising before being prematurely killed-off.
Of course, with England and Wales being relegated out of Nations League A, if we lose to Ukraine tomorrow night, then there will be four British Isles nations, Us, England, Ireland and Wales in League B – UEFA might well be tempted to lump them together in one group, which would certainly be popular with the TV companies and the fans. I doubt it would be so popular with the Wembley-based “blazers,” particularly if England couldn't win that group.
LET'S talk real fitba for a change, and by real fitba I mean the Scottish Junior variety, where men are men and only poofs wear shin guards. The third round draw for the Scottish Junior Cup was made last week, and one tie stands out abune them awe – Auchinleck Talbot v Darvel, cup holders v West of Scotland League Champions.
This one should attract another bumper attendance to Beechwood Park, because Talbot, as ever, have been slow out of the blocks this season and, with four league games played, they lie eighth in the table, with seven points, having already lost once and drawn once.
Darvel lie fourth, with nine points from three wins and one loss. Last season Darvel showed they maybe had the measure of the 'Bot, certainly in the league, however, when silverware, and in particular that magnificent Scottish Cup, is up for grabs, the Beechwood Boys are a totally different animal.
Added spice comes from last week's transfer of striker Jamie Glasgow, from Talbot to Darvel. Talk about pouring more fuel on the flames.
Still in the toxic waters of the Juniors in God's County. I spotted over the weekend a Facebook posting concerning “The Winton Warriors,” a group of Ardrossan Winton Rovers Ultras, on an away day to Saltcoats Victoria's Campbell Park.
It's good to see the weans involved, for this lot all looked to be about 11 or 12. This reminds me of a previous bunch of teenage fans whose youthful enthusiasm was a bit over-reaching.
It was back in the late 1980s and Dalry Thistle put together a late season run of form, which took them to an Ayrshire Cup Final, against Glenafton Athletic, at Meadow Park. Their cup run had attracted a bunch of youthful followers more-often seen at Ibrox, who spent much of the first half, up in the Meadow Park stand, goading the Glen supporters to: “send your casuals over here.”
In the pie queue at half time, a small group of the Darvel lads were approached by 'Big Alex' a six-foot-plus, 20-stone, bearded fan, resplendent in Glenafton scarf. He came straight to the point.
“Listen boays, awe oor casuals are aboot 35 and got made redundant frae the pits by Maggie Thatcher; so, they're no the maist sociable. Maybe better if ye didnae goad them oany mair.”
The Darvel Casuals were much quieter in the second half, as they watched the Glen do the business to take the cup.
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