where now?
10:10 pm on the 18th of February, 2004It’s really quite interesting to be a fan of scottish sport at the moment. We are on the cusp of something, in both rugby and football. But the cusp of what?
It is of course far too early to see what successes Matt Williams will have with the rugby team, but what of Berti Vogts? I’ve already said my piece about him, on a few occasions and I don’t want to rant again but, why on earth did we play so badly against Wales tonight?
I know we always play better against big teams in important games but still, to lose so heavily after what we achieved against Holland at home is gutting, especially when you recall the result of the tie in Holland.
I’m not going to call for his head again yet, just hope to myself that we will do ourselves proud against the world beating, AIDS eradicating, crime stopping, peace inspiring, all-round good guys and superheros who visit Murrayfield on Saturday.
Oh, and didn’t Clive Woodward invent a time machine as well? Sorry, I mean Sir Clive Woodward.
Not that I’m cynical about the whole awards thing or anything. Oh no, not me.
February 19th, 2004 at 9:04 am on the 19th of February, 2004
The difference last night was that the welsh centrebacks did a passable imitation of international players. The Scottich centrebacks looked like they’d been pulled from the stands, Ritchie was a perpetual error, one we can say goodbye to now. Caldwell, meanwhile seemed to take a early decision that wherever Earnshaw would be, he wouldn’t.
But if friendlies are about learning, finding new players, what did we learn?
Negatives: Caldwell isn’t ready, Ritchie just isn’t. (What happened to Russell Anderson?) Murty isn’t good enough to provide cover at right back (odd that Ross can’t get in the squad when he’s actually playing for Rangers, and whatever happened to McNaughton?). Dailly isn a better centrehalf than central midfielder (Ferguson, Gavin Rae, Alex Rae, Severin?) Pearson didn’t deliver a ball all first half. Miller and Dickov, tho both played well, didn’t click for me.
Positives? Fletcher, obviously. McFadden 2nd half. Individually Miller an Dickov worked hard, tho too similar i think. Crawford, Thomson, even Kyle may improve things here.
You may have noticed I didn’t mentioned the egg-chasing. Maybe I don’t care. Matt Williams? From Stu’s text, can i assume he is Scotlands coach? Is he the bloke that won’t pick players if they are good enough to earn a lucrative contract abroad? There used to be, for a spell, an annual Scottish football league opener - our charity shield. Scottish League versus the exiles. I wonder how the rugby equivalent would go.
February 19th, 2004 at 4:05 pm on the 19th of February, 2004
what is it ‘we always play better against big teams in important games’ about? man, it’s such good fun to watch scotland getting thrashed by brazil on the first round of every single world cup scotland actually manages to make to! (i love scotland, but being a brazilian who’s lived there for a while, moments like this are priceless!- though i have to say that my most memorable ‘mastercard’ moment was watching brazil knock in england out of 2002 world cup in a pub in central london, wth english boyf and wth all the buzz from arrogant english press!)
February 20th, 2004 at 8:52 am on the 20th of February, 2004
You aren’t calling for his head, but others are.
February 20th, 2004 at 12:42 pm on the 20th of February, 2004
Dominatrix:
How many times have Scotland played Brazil in the first round of a world cup?
1998 - Scotland (1) - (2) Brazil
1990 - Scotland (0) - (1) Brazil
1982 - Scotland (1) - (4) Brazil
1974 - Scotland (0) - (0) Brazil
Hardly thrashings everytime, are they? And not every World Cup we make it to either. I don’t want to pick your argument apart altogether but there’s so little of it, it’s hard not to.
Such as John Collins, Daily Record, The Scotsman as well as James McFadden giving Vogts’ idea of capping Agathe stinging critism.
I don’t think I need to anymore do I? Gordon Strachan is an interesting idea is it not?
February 20th, 2004 at 8:18 pm on the 20th of February, 2004
I am more p*ssed off at the fact we arent even any good at Snooker these days.
We cant even boast about Stephen Hendry, Alan McManus and John Higgins these days.
Oh well. At least there’s curling.
And Prawn Baguettes…
March 4th, 2004 at 9:17 am on the 4th of March, 2004
Shame we can’t find a Scotsman to manage our national team. We seem to have manager everywhere else.
May 5th, 2005 at 7:52 pm on the 5th of May, 2005
I am a welshman and i have always been disapointed with our performances in football. So I am delighted that we are now becoming great at rugby, grand slam, six nations championship and 5th best in the world. I was there against Ireland and it was amazing- the best though Giving englishman loudmouth, cocky fool a good seeing to.
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