International Week Debate ââ?¬â?? The Rangers and Scotland Relationship

[Frankie 8,552]

http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=492&Itemid=2

 

Since its international week (good luck Scotland!) and Rangers news seems thin on the ground, I think now is as good a time as any to discuss the ongoing relationship between our club and the Scotland team.

 

It�s fair to say in recent years the Rangers contribution to the national team has not been as valuable as in the past. The Dick Advocaat era, as well as the cheap, foreign Bosman import meant not as many Scottish lads were coming through of a quality to make the Rangers first team. As such, the numbers in the international squad also dwindled.

 

From the days of having Richard Goughs, Ian Fergusons, Ally McCoists and Andy Gorams, we went to fewer and fewer players being involved. Indeed, only Barry Ferguson could be considered a genuine regular in the first XI this century. Is it no coincidence that our qualification for the big international tournaments has also become pretty much non-existent?

 

Obviously, in more recent years our club have struggled from financial problems. While this has resulted in 6 years of sporadic domestic success and a few years of downright underachievement; one good thing that may come out of this bad spell is the re-emergence of Scottish players at our club. It certainly appears obvious that Walter Smith is building his team around a home-grown spine and not only is this helping Rangers currently, Alex McLeish will also be delighted.

 

If we start in defence, well no-one can doubt the quality in the current Rangers team. Craig Gordon is certainly a fine goalkeeper and it was not much of a surprise when Sunderland paid �£9million for him. However, in the last year, Allan McGregor has certainly come of age. Consistency is his best quality and while he may not be the best at dealing with crosses, his overall game is very good and he is now a very capable goalkeeper. Certainly, the most obvious deputy to Gordon available.

 

At full back Rangers also have 2 fine young players. Alan Hutton was excellent for the majority of last season and has taken this form into the new campaign. Athletic, strong and excellent going forward, he has all the hall-marks of being the Scotland right back for years to come. On the other side, Steven Smith has also done well in the Rangers first team. Unfortunately, his progress has been held back with a bad pelvic problem but when he retains fitness, he�ll be another player capable of staking a claim for the national left-back position.

 

In the centre, one of the main features of Rangers� return to form has been the experienced figure of David Weir. Now 37 years young, the big centre-half has shown age is no handicap to quality. While he has never been the fastest of players and his distribution not his strongest point, his sheer presence and composure has already helped Carlos Cuellar no end. Andy Webster should also benefit from this experience and go onto to regain his place in the Scotland central defence if, as expected, his loan deal at Rangers becomes permanent.

 

Midfield is more hotly contested in the Scotland squad right now. Darren Fletcher and Shaun Maloney are both fine players and while not out and out regulars in their respective EPL teams, their quality cannot be denied. Similarly, Scott Brown has made a decent start at Celtic and although there may well be an element of hyperbole about his early contribution, there�s no doubt he should be part of any Scottish international team. His Celtic team-mate Paul Hartley hasn�t had as good a time at club level in recent times but has done reasonably well for Scotland so will also always be looking to feature.

 

As such, the Rangers contingent in the Scottish squad frame has a lot to live up to. Thankfully, Steven Whittaker, Barry Ferguson, Kevin Thomson and Lee McCulloch have all done well so far this season. A more solid midfield is difficult to name and all four will become important parts of future national squads.

 

The forward line is another area that will provoke further debate. James McFadden, Kenny Miller and Garry Oââ?¬â?¢Connor have all scored important goals of late and all 3 can lay claim to a first team berth. Again though, we have two Rangers players more than capable of challenging them. A better goal-scorer than Kris Boyd we do not have and while his overall contribution may detract from his international chances, already heââ?¬â?¢s shown if we need goals, heââ?¬â?¢ll get them - at any level. Steven Naismith is a more rounded player and his SPL form of recent years suggests when he does make the step up to the ââ?¬Ë?Aââ?¬â?¢ Squad, heââ?¬â?¢ll be difficult to ignore.

 

If we put this altogether, then the following international side is not out of the question if injuries and suspension affect the national team:

 

________________________McGregor_________________________

 

Hutton___________Weir__________________Webster________Smith

 

Whittaker_______Ferguson_______________Thomson____McCulloch

 

__________Naismith___________________Boyd_________________

 

 

Obviously, as much as this team looks attractive and extremely solid, it�s also unlikely to happen. David Weir is too near his international retirement and a few of these guys too far from consistent national selection to see a complete Rangers/Scotland merge in the near future.

 

However, what is clear is that the Rangers contribution to our national game is increasing. Add that to Walter Smith turning around our fortunes in such a short period and Alex McLeish following on rather nicely, the Rangers/Scotland connection is rapidly coming back to the days of old.

 

Let�s hope this starts with qualification for Euro 2008. This should then give these players exactly the kind of experience required to substantially increase our chances of a Scotland appearance in South Africa in 3 years time. That�s good for Scotland, good for Rangers and good for our game as a whole.

[fraser54 0]

Totally agree

 

Was talking in school the other day, one of my mates said what do you think the line up will be on Saturday and a said that team posted above apart from Smith as he is injured to wind him up. But it is very nice to see loads of Scottiosh playes back in the gers squad, they know what it means to play for our team. You get soo many foreigners coming in and don't know how lucky they are to play for Rangers.

[Whosthedado 1,680]

Yip good read Frankie. Can you imagine the fans of the other teams if McLeish picked Frankie's team for one of the games:) It is heartening to see us going with so many Scottish guys nowadays. TBH I had grown tired of watching Scotland a few years back - pre WS and mostly that was because there was very rarely more than one Ger in there and then if BF was in there 9 times out of ten it always seemed if Scotland lost it was all down to him!

[theboyharley 5]

Its a pretty strong starting 11, be interesting to see the starting 11 in a couple of seasons

[fraser54 0]

Actualy have to give Advocat credit for bringing 1 scottish player through

 

Which is Barry Ferguson, Advocat flung him in at the deep end and handled himself greatly and has never looked back.