GrantB Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 I see Englishman David Bardsley has been called into the Scotland squad for the forthcoming qualifiers. I wonder what Scottish guys like Stephen Crainey of Blackpool or Chris Burke of Cardiff have to do to get a game for Scotland? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven H Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 I see Englishman David Bardsley has been called into the Scotland squad for the forthcoming qualifiers. I wonder what Scottish guys like Stephen Crainey of Blackpool or Chris Burke of Cardiff have to do to get a game for Scotland? Grant I dont know much about this English fella, but Crainey and Burke? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pie Of The Month Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 Grant I dont know much about this English fella, but Crainey and Burke? Crainey has looked decent in the Premier League with Blackpool. Can't be worse than playing Whittaker out of position since Wallace of Hearts is out injured. Not that I watch much Championship football but I've heard Burke is doing well down there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Incredible Adam Spark Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 I see Englishman David Bardsley has been called into the Scotland squad... You mean Phil? In answer to your question: a. play better b. play in the position where we require cover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrantB Posted October 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 Grant I dont know much about this English fella, but Crainey and Burke? Crainey has been ever present for Blackpool for the last 2 seasons. He played in a winning side at Anfield on Sunday. We have one natural left back in the squad (Jay McEvely) and are likely to play Stephen Whittaker out of position at left back on Friday and Tuesday. Chris Burke has been is good form for Cardiff for the last season and carries a goal threat. He's also been injury free for the last season and a half which is probably the longest time he's been injury free in his career. This isn't so much about Levein picking English born players before Scottish ones, rather the fact that he makes a big deal out of leaving no stone unturned in getting people eligible to play for us but turns his nose up at players under his nose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrantB Posted October 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 You mean Phil? In answer to your question: a. play better b. play in the position where we require cover So why are we calling up a right back when it's a left back we need. Crainey is a natural left back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven H Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 Crainey has looked decent in the Premier League with Blackpool. Can't be worse than playing Whittaker out of position since Wallace of Hearts is out injured. Not that I watch much Championship football but I've heard Burke is doing well down there. Dont think Whittaker is played out of position at left full/wing back, maybe being played in his less prefered position but still the most effective full/wing back we have along wi Hutton. Crainey and Burke are not good enough imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Incredible Adam Spark Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 So why are we calling up a right back when it's a left back we need. Crainey is a natural left back. Perhaps Levein has more faith in Whittaker, despite him not being a natural left back and has therefore drafted in cover for the right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrantB Posted October 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 Dont think Whittaker is played out of position at left full/wing back, maybe being played in his less prefered position but still the most effective full/wing back we have along wi Hutton. Crainey and Burke are not good enough imo. Evening Times Whittaker is definately NOT a left back. Crainey is good enough to play week in week out in the Premiership, has played against 3 of the so called 'big 4' already this season and held his own. I dont know what else he has to do to get a call up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uberteeb Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 Burke has been doing very well down at City. Is his exclusion not something to do with him and his other half splitting up and him using free time to spend it with his kid in Scotland? Sure I heard something along those lines a while back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven H Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 (edited) Evening Times Whittaker is definately NOT a left back. Crainey is good enough to play week in week out in the Premiership, has played against 3 of the so called 'big 4' already this season and held his own. I dont know what else he has to do to get a call up. Can he play the position? Can he play it well? Does he prefer that position to right back? Yes. Yes. No Or to quote the article 'Although he has stated on many occasions he considers his best position to be right-back, Whittaker says it isn’t a problem for him to swap flanks to help his country out' . Edited October 6, 2010 by Steven H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redandyellowallover Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 Burke has made himself unavailable for Scotland. Crainey has looked suspect everytime i've seen him this season, but he probably should be in the squad as cover for left back. With regards to Bardsley, I can't think of any other natural right backs he could have called up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrantB Posted October 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 Burke has been doing very well down at City. Is his exclusion not something to do with him and his other half splitting up and him using free time to spend it with his kid in Scotland? Sure I heard something along those lines a while back. I remember reading something about that a while ago. I wondered if his circumstances had changed or if no stone unturned Levein had bothered to ask the question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrantB Posted October 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 Can he play the position? Can he play it well? Does he prefer that position to right back? Yes. Yes. No Or to quote the article 'Although he has stated on many occasions he considers his best position to be right-back, Whittaker says it isn’t a problem for him to swap flanks to help his country out' . There are plenty of H_uns who would tell you he doesn't play right back well. His best position is right midfield as, while he can be excellent going forward, he is suspect defensively - especially with a player running at him with pace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 John Lambie Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 Burke would add something to the squad on recent form, don't think he's any worse than Maloney. Would also be good to see McCormack regain some sort of form, now at Leeds I believe, as he would certainly add to the attacking options in the squad. Onto Crainey, doing not too bad at the moment, but not sure he's quite good enough. He got tore a new one against Walcott afew weeks back, but many players better than him will. Anyworse than McEveley though? Doubt it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JobbyMahoney Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 Crainey has been ever present for Blackpool for the last 2 seasons. He played in a winning side at Anfield on Sunday. We have one natural left back in the squad (Jay McEvely) and are likely to play Stephen Whittaker out of position at left back on Friday and Tuesday. Chris Burke has been is good form for Cardiff for the last season and carries a goal threat. He's also been injury free for the last season and a half which is probably the longest time he's been injury free in his career. This isn't so much about Levein picking English born players before Scottish ones, rather the fact that he makes a big deal out of leaving no stone unturned in getting people eligible to play for us but turns his nose up at players under his nose. Djimi Traore has a Champions League medal. He's still rank though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagfox Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 I've quite liked the look of Kris Commons this season. His team have had hit and miss form but he has been prominent in the games I've seen and in terms of goals and assists. Is it just me or does craig levein look like the character joe tobin from the second series of damages? Anyway he seems to make up selection rules as goes along. No players who haven't had a run in their club side, i.e. Maloney then contradicted by playing hutton who had played less games. No doubt Gary Caldwell will get a start despite not playing for however long. Rumours now spreading that miller will be dropped for mackie. I guess we'll find out tomorrow when team is announced Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaggyThistle Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 I wonder what Scottish guys like Stephen Crainey of Blackpool or Chris Burke of Cardiff have to do to get a game for Scotland? Stop being Ginger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrantB Posted October 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 Burke would add something to the squad on recent form, don't think he's any worse than Maloney. Would also be good to see McCormack regain some sort of form, now at Leeds I believe, as he would certainly add to the attacking options in the squad. Onto Crainey, doing not too bad at the moment, but not sure he's quite good enough. He got tore a new one against Walcott afew weeks back, but many players better than him will. Anyworse than McEveley though? Doubt it. Blackpool were down to 10 men for most of the game v Arsenal. That would have made his job that much harder. Djimi Traore has a Champions League medal. He's still rank though. Fair enough point. I'll see you and raise you Stephane Guivarrch (sp) has a World Cup winners medal. I don't think Crainey has been that bad though. I've quite liked the look of Kris Commons this season. His team have had hit and miss form but he has been prominent in the games I've seen and in terms of goals and assists. Is it just me or does craig levein look like the character joe tobin from the second series of damages? Anyway he seems to make up selection rules as goes along. No players who haven't had a run in their club side, i.e. Maloney then contradicted by playing hutton who had played less games. No doubt Gary Caldwell will get a start despite not playing for however long. Rumours now spreading that miller will be dropped for mackie. I guess we'll find out tomorrow when team is announced Excellent point about Commons. I'd actually forgotten about him when the squad was announced. He scored a cracker against Middlesboro the other week. Levein gets more baffling by the week. I fear Scotland will become a laughing stock under him despite the fact we have a few decent players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrantB Posted October 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 Stop being Ginger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrantB Posted October 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2010 Just seen the team for tomorrow. Levein must be sacked NOW!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkyBoyFTOF Posted October 7, 2010 Report Share Posted October 7, 2010 (edited) Just seen the team for tomorrow. Levein must be sacked NOW!!!! I don't know if this is a serious post but although I do not see how the 11 will fit in to a formation (this is a familiar game we play going to Firhill) Levein must be given time. If Scotland win (or draw) tomorrow night will you still stand by your post? Edited October 7, 2010 by MarkyBoyFTOF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chachi Posted October 7, 2010 Report Share Posted October 7, 2010 how anyone can demand a manager be sacked for not playing Kenny Miller is beyond me, he's hardly pele so lets get real here. anyway, i'm sure he'll back chasing shadows and lost causes for the spain game so dont panic! in any case we will still have striker on the pitch, albeit one we've never heard of caldwell will sit deep with morrison and dorrans wide midfielders and fletcher and naismith in the centre, 4-1-4-1. however i suppose any of the 3 (exc fletcher) could play in any of the 3 available midfield positions. i think (more hope) we might just snatch a decent result Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkyBoyFTOF Posted October 7, 2010 Report Share Posted October 7, 2010 caldwell will sit deep with morrison and dorrans wide midfielders and fletcher and naismith in the centre, 4-1-4-1. however i suppose any of the 3 (exc fletcher) could play in any of the 3 available midfield positions. i think (more hope) we might just snatch a decent result Agreed, it's a 4-1-4-1 and players in positions as stated but I am unsure on Naismith as a central midfielder. Think Levein has set up to have a go on the break, with Naismith, Dorrans, Morrison and the one and only totally Scottish Aberdeen super-hero Darren Mackie.....what do you mean Aberdeen fans don't like him? He's an internationalist!!!!.....It's not Darren Mackie, are you sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkyBoyFTOF Posted October 7, 2010 Report Share Posted October 7, 2010 All joking aside the guy is on fire in the Championship and as Mr Boyd has proved this is a harder league than our SPL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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