[chris~rangers]

i like to think so :L i'm realistic

[Teckle Toby]

RANGERS PLAYERS STICK BY SHAMED TRIO
25th of August 2008

Weeks before Scotland's first World Cup Qualifier vs Macedonia, Craig Levein's squad plans have been thrown into disruption.

This news comes on the back of Rangers captain David Weir telling us at Sky Sports "I am disgusted in the way my club team mates have been treated by the Scottish FA and national side. The reason to ban Barry, Allan and Kenny from ever playing international football again on the back of an Internet video is ridiculous and quite simply embarrassing. As a result of this act of discrimination against Rangers, I regrettably inform Sky Sports News that from this date on myself and other Scottish players at Rangers will retire from international football indefinitely while the current regime is still around".

This outcome is likely to send shockwaves throughout the Scotland camp with David Weir retiring from International football, other Scotland stars such as Lee McCulloth, Kris Boyd, Steven Whittaker and Steven Naismith are all said to according to David Weir retire from the International scene aswell.

[Teckle Toby]

RANGERS FANS WILL BOYCOTT GAMES CLAIMS BAIN
30th of August 2008

Rangers Chief Executive Martin Bain has warned the Scottish FA that unless they overturn the decision to ban Barry Ferguson, Allan McGregor and Kenny Miller from International football they face a drastic reduction in the number of fans attending Scotland games with Bain suggesting Rangers fans feel their players have been treated unfairly and will protest against the decision to ban the players by simply not turning up.

Our machines here at Sky Sports have been receiving your calls and text messages all day on this issue. Here are a couple we have picked out:

This one is from Martin Cooper from Glasgow who is a Celtic fan, he starts I think Scotland are better off without those players. Barry is past it as is Kenny while McGregor is only a squad player. The rest of the Rangers Scottish players aren't up for the job anyway!

One from Alan who is Rangers fan says Scotland will fail as a nation even more than usual after this ridiculous series of events. Scotland need goalscorers and Kris Boyd is the best we have, without him the team will suffer. We also need players who are playing week in week out, Craig Gordon is not and McGregor is. What type of message does this send to other Scottish players?

With Craig Levein set to announce his next Scotland squad in the next couple of days what is next in this saga? You can find out the latest right here at Sky Sports on 24/7.

This post has been edited by Goodwillie: 03 July 2009 - 06:08 PM

[Teckle Toby]

I WILL STICK BY SCOTLAND SAYS BOYD
30th of August 2008

Rangers striker Kris Boyd has sensationally revealed that he will stick by Scotland boss Craig Levein and not quit from International football for the second time.

The striker was one of the Rangers players expected to retire from the International scene along with David Weir, but Boyd has said he is not wanting to quit on his country a second time "People have been asking me since Davy came out in the press last week have you quit Scotland Kris? My reply has been simple, I owe it to Levein he gave me the chance to get back onto the International scene after the Burley era and I think it would be disrespectful to throw it back in his face like that".

The fall out from this revelation will be huge, the chance of a dressing room split at Rangers seems a real possibility now with half the Scottish players in the Rangers squad quitting Scotland and along with Boyd some other Scottish players uncertain on there international careers.

This story is a massive boost for Craig Levein who is set to announce his Scotland squad to face Macedonia and Iceland tomorrow. The Scotland boss was looking to be without every Scottish Rangers player after David Weir announced to the press that they had came to an agreement to retire from Scotland. This story however casts doubts on Weir's announcement and the International future of other Rangers players such as Steven Whittaker, Stephen Naismith and Andy Webster all look misty.

[Teckle Toby]

MCMANUS ANNOUNCED AS NEW CAPTAIN AS LEVEIN ANNOUNCES SQUAD
2nd of September

Scotland boss Craig Levein has announced his squad for the World Cup Qualifier games vs Macedonia and Iceland. The squad includes only Kris Boyd from Rangers as Scotland look set to move on to a new era without the likes of Barry Ferguson and Kenny Miller.

Central defender Stephen McManus has been announced as the new captain taking over from shamed ex captain Ferguson.

Among the squad is left winger Michael McIndoe who impressed against Northern Ireland last month setting up two goals. The surprise call up of the squad is youngster Leigh Griffiths, the Livingston striker is said to be highly rated and has scored 3 in 4 goals so far this season.

The squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers:
Craig Gordon, David Marshal

Defenders:
Christophe Berra, Gary Caldwell, Stephen Caldwell, Paul Dixon, Stephen Hammel, Alan Hutton, Stephen McManus, Paul Quinn, Mark Wilson

Midfielders:
Scott Brown, Kris Commons, Don Cowie, Darren Fletcher, Shaun Maloney, Michael McIndoe, James Morrison, Scott Robertson, Barry Robson, Kevin Thomson

Strikers:
Kris Boyd, David Clarkson, Leigh Griffiths, James McFadden, Lee Miller

This post has been edited by Goodwillie: 03 July 2009 - 10:17 PM

[Teckle Toby]

SCOTLAND DESTROY MACEDONIA


The first chance of the game fell to Macedonia. A Selmani corner was met by the head of Mustafi but his header went just wide.

Macedonia went close to scoring again on the 11th minute when Goran Pandev had a great chance to score with a free kick on the edge of the box. His free kick rebounded off Craig Gordons left hand post and bounced away.

Scotland started to come into the came more as it progressed. Kris Boyd had two chances to open the scoring firstly a Paul Dixon cross was met by his head but it went inches wide, secondly a nice little turn in the box by Boyd after a pass by Hutton was saved by Macedonia goalkeeper Georgievski.

Kris Boyd came close once more on the 32nd minute after a lovely ball down the line by Hutton, Boyd managed to wriggle his way into the box and unleashed a curling effort which rebounded off the far away post.

After starting to dominate the game further and further, Scotland were rewarded on the 38th minute. After a neat run down the right wing Scott Brown managed to cross a low ball into the box were a goalmouth scramble errupted before Lee Miller pounced to score his first goal for Scotland.
Macedonia 0-1 Scotland

Scotland came raring out for the second half and after possesion was won back in midfield by McIndoe, Miller played it to Boyd who's shot narrowely went over from quite a distance out.

After starting the second half brightly, Scotland were rewarded with there second goal of the game. A Kevin Thomson corner was met by Lee Miller's head who got his second goal of the game.
Macedonia 0-2 Scotland

Things went from bad to worse in a matter of minutes for Macedonia. McIndoe played it to Miller in the box and he was brought down by Macedonian defender Milosevski. After dusting himself down Miller stepped up himself and scored his third goal of the game to complete his hattrick.
Macedonia 0-3 Scotland

Despite going 3-0 down Macedonia did not give up and got one back on the 62nd minute. Some slack marking by Hutton and McManus allowed Andonav to turn easily in the box and pass it past Craig Gordon.
Macedonia 1-3 Scotland

Miller nearly got his fourth of the game after a McIndoe free kick was met once more by his head, this time unfortunetly his header was cleared off the line by Zezovski.

You would have thought Macedonia would have learned as the game went on, unfortunetly this was the case and on the 75th minute McIndoe played the ball to Miller in the box who was brought down once more by Milovski. This time Miller did not get the ball fast enough and McIndoe stepped up to take it who slotted past the Macedonian goalkeeper to make it 4-1 Scotland.
Macedonia 1-4 Scotland

Macedonia had a couple chances before the full time whistle but there players were clearly demoralised by what had just happened in there national stadium and Scotland went on to finish the game 4-1. In what was a tremendous victory manager Craig Levein had this to say afterwards "I couldn't have asked for much more from the lads today, we started slowly but once we got into it we played some really good football. I am personally delighted for Lee Miller to get a hattrick on his first competitive game for Scotland. I look forward to the Norway game after this".

Macedonia 1-4 Scotland
Lee Miller 3
Michael McIndoe

Scotland Line Up: Gordon, Hutton, Dixon, McManus, Caldwell, Brown, McIndoe, Thomson (Robson 76), Fletcher, Miller, Boyd (Clarkson)

Man of the Match: Scotlands Lee Miller

[Teckle Toby]

Scotland out of ideas as they draw 0-0 against Iceland.

Scotland named the exact same team as Saturdays demolition job on Macedonia for the game vs Iceland.

The first chance of the game did not go Scotlands way. An Iceland corner by Johannesson was met by Ottesons head and Craig Gordon had to produce a fantastic save to tip the ball over.

Scotland were failing to keep hold of the ball and on the 25th minute they were nearly punished with Craig Gordon having to do a double save to prevent Iceland from scoring. Firstly he denied Gunnarson who had wriggled free of the defence and then saved the rebound shot by Jonsson.

Against the run of play Scotland had a brilliant chance on the 28th minute. Michael McIndoe did superbly on the left wing to skin Johannesson and played it to Fletcher on the edge of the box who's shot looked destined for the top corner but was saved by the Iceland keeper.

The first half was starting to frizzle out into a bore until the 40th minute when a mix up involving Dixon, McManus and Caldwell on the edge of the box allowed Helguson a crack on goal, his shot was well saved by Gordon but he could only parry it and the ball fell to Sigporsson who had an open goal to aim at but from a tight angle missed the target.

The second half started like the first ended boring. It was until the 62nd minute till the game came to life. A ball played through by Thomson to McIndoe and one on one McIndoe could only hit it against the Iceland keeper.

The game was starting to frizzle out into a 0-0 bore draw when Scotland looked to add a little bit of excitement and energy to the game with Leigh Griffiths coming on for the largely ineffective Kris Boyd and Shaun Maloney on for the likewise ineffective Michael McIndoe with 20 minutes remaining.

The substitutes did have one moment linking up together firstly Maloney ran down the left wing before playing a one-two with Griffiths before laying it off to Miller but his shot went over the bar. Apart from this chance the game ended disappointingly for Scotland 0-0.

Iceland 0-0 Scotland

Scottish Line Up: Gordon, Hutton, Dixon, McManus, Caldwell, Brown, McIndoe (Maloney 70), Fletcher (Robertson 45), Thomson, Boyd (Griffiths), Miller

Man of the Match: The referee Stefano Farina for blowing the full time whistle. Yes this game really was that bad.

[Teckle Toby]

LEVEIN SATISFIED WITH RESULTS
12th of September

Well, after Scotland's recent World Cup Qualifier games against Macedonia and Iceland Scotland boss had this to say.

"I thought we played well in both games. In the Macedonia game we started slowly but soon dominated the game and I think the scoreline reflects our performance fairly no disrespect to the Macedonia side. I was delighted to see Lee Miller score a hattrick in that game, I expected a big performance from him after he made a good start to the Spl season with Aberdeen scoring four in four and am delighted to see I was right in starting him. In the Iceland game we again started slow but unlike the Macedonia game we never really got going, maybe this was down to fatigue from flying and maybe I should have changed things a little. At the end of the day we have played two games in the group both potential banana skins and came away with four points so it is a good start to our campaign".

Well that was Scotland boss Craig Levein speaking exclusively to Sky Sports News. Scotland's next game will be against Norway at home on the 11th of October. After the press conference Sky Sports News were informed that next year Scotland will play friendlies against Poland and Denmark on the 6th and 10th of June.

Scotlands Group So Far:

[Teckle Toby]

FIFA WORLD RANKINGS ANNOUNCED
20th of September 2008

Fifa have announced there latest world rankings after the recent World Cup Qualifier games.

Spain and Italy remain the top two nations in that order while Brazil occupy third and the shock of the recent rankings shows Croatia sitting in 4th with both Holland and Germany moving down. The most improved nation was Montenegro who moved up from 137th to 98th after wins against both Bulgaria and Republic of Ireland.

The rankings also show Scotland ahead of England for the first time in the rankings history. Scotland beat Macedonia and drew vs Iceland earlier this month and have moved up three places while England despite beating Andorra comprehensively 4-0 and narrowly losing 3-2 to Croatia have moved down four places.

Rankings:
1. Spain =
2. Italy =
3. Brazil :thup: 3
4. Croatia :thup: 1
5. Holland :thdn: 1
6. Germany :thdn: 3
7. Argentina =
8. Czech Republic =
9. Russia :thup: 3
10. Turkey =
14. Scotland :thup: 3
19. England :thdn: 4
35. Northern Ireland :thdn: 3
40. Republic Of Ireland :thdn: 2
54. Wales :thdn: 1

[Teckle Toby]

I AM FIT PLEAS HARTLEY
1st of October 2008

Celtic midfielder Paul Hartley has pleaded to Scotland boss Craig Levein that he is still fit enough to play for Scotland and wants to help them qualify for the World Cup 2010.

The midfielder has not featured in either of Craig Leveins squads for Scotland so far but still thinks he has what it takes to play International football.

"Some say when you get into your thirties that you start to feel your body just can't compete as hard anymore, for me this is not the case and I still feel as fit as I did 10 years ago. I have played every game for Celtic so far this season and trained hard every day. I do still think I have what it takes to play for Scotland and I hope that the manager realises that I am still fit enough to do a job for the national side. I am going to keep training as hard as I can and hopefully get involved in some of the World Cup Qualifiers to help get the boys to South Africa 2010".

With Craig Levein set to announce his squad for the next World Cup Qualifier against Norway in the next coming days will Hartleys appeal have convinced Levein that he can still do a job for Scotland.

This post has been edited by Goodwillie: 04 July 2009 - 01:38 PM

[Teckle Toby]

LEVEIN ANNOUNCES SCOTLAND SQUAD
5th of October 2008

Craig Levein has announced his Scotland squad for the World Cup Qualifier against Norway.

Levein has decided to include a number of players who could be in line to earn there first cap for the national side, among those players is Aberdeen's centre back Zander Diamond who had this to say "It was a surprise for me personally to be included in the squad, I am still fairly young and this season I havent even thought about being called up for Scotland. My manager and some team mates most notably Lee (Miller) have told me that I have deserved to be called up because I have been playing well for my club so far this season. I'm just delighted to have been called up it's a great honour

Also in Craig Levein's squad is Celtic midfielder Paul Hartley who had earlier this week pleaded to Levein in the press to include him in the squad. "I would just like to thank Levein for having faith in me by including me in his squad. Even if I amen't involved in the game against Norway it is still great that he has recognised myself."

The Scotland squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers:
Craig Gordon, David Marshall

Defenders:
Christophe Berra, Kirk Broadfoot, Gary Caldwell, Zander Diamond, Paul Dixon, Steven Hammel, Alan Hutton, Stephen McManus, Mark Reynolds

Midfielders:
Scott Arfield, Scott Brown, Kris Commons, Craig Conway, Darren Fletcher, Paul Hartley, Richard Hughes, Michael McIdone, Scott Robertson, Barry Robson, Kevin Thomson

Strikers:
Kris Boyd, Steven Fletcher, James McFadden, Lee Miller

This post has been edited by Goodwillie: 07 July 2009 - 12:06 AM

[Teckle Toby]

SCOTLAND EASE PAST NORWAY AS TARTAN ARMY PACK HAMPDEN

Hampden couldnt have been any more atmospheric than it was yesterday as Scottish fans packed the national stadium with it being just a couple seats away from full.

The Tartan Army was rewarded as earlier as the 7th minute when a Barry Robson mazy run down the left and a wicked cross into the box was pounced upon by Darren Fletcher who made it 1-0 Scotland.
Scotland 1-0 Norway

The rest of the first half failed to match the terrific support as it frizzled out into a midfield battle. The only main concern at half time for Scotland was an injury to striker Kris Boyd who had to be replaced at half time by Lee Miller after landing on his foot awkwardly.

The second half started slowly like the first ended. The first real chance of the second half came to Scotland when a Paul Dixon cross was met by Lee Millers header. The Aberdeen striker could unfortunetly only put it over the bar.

Scotland came close once again on the 69th minute when a Paul Hartley corner was put over by Steven Fletchers header.

The game frizzled out with hardly any chances in the last 20 minutes and Scotland went onto win the game 1-0. Craig Levein had this to say after the game "I thought it was another terrific victory for our team, I thought we could have a lot more goals and no disrespect to Norway but we really dont have anything to fear when playing them away in Oslo next year they were quite simply not at the races today."

Scotland 1-0 Norway
Steven Fletcher

Scotland Line Up: Gordon, Hutton, Dixon, Berra, McManus, Brown, Robson (McIndoe 76), Hartley (Robertson 76), Fletcher, Boyd (Miller 45), Fletcher

Man of the match: Scotlands Darren Fletcher

[Teckle Toby]

Doing a story on a national team is quite hard to fill readers with information as you obviously dont have matches every week, no transfers etc so I was just wondering what readers would like to see included in this story aside from what's already included.

[Johnsey]

I think it's brilliant the way it is but if you want to write more maybe include stuff like how certain players are getting on at club level, like the best performers in the SPL or maybe someone playing in England who is lower down who believes he can play at national level.

Also maybe updates on Scottish or British Teams in Europe?

[Teckle Toby]

Slim Shady, on Jul 4 2009, 10:25 PM, said:

I think it's brilliant the way it is but if you want to write more maybe include stuff like how certain players are getting on at club level, like the best performers in the SPL or maybe someone playing in England who is lower down who believes he can play at national level.

Also maybe updates on Scottish or British Teams in Europe?

Thanks

All probably start including some of the stuff you have said they are good suggestions.

New update out in 10mins!

[Teckle Toby]

I WANT TO PLAY FOR SCOTLAND
26th of October 2008

Spanish born Rangers striker Nacho Navo who has recently qualified to be a British citizen has told Scotland boss Craig Levein that he would now like to play for the national side.

Despite being born in Ferrol Spain, he has yet to be capped by his country of birth and after living in Scotland for five years now, the striker is eligible to play for Scotland.

"Despite not being born here I feel like I am from this place. I understand I may hurt a few people back home in Spain by playing for another nation but I hope they can understand that I just want to play for once in a big stage National tournament. So if Craig Levein thinks I am good enough then I would be feel privileged to play for Scotland"

With Novo's home country Spain having a huge amount of quality upfront in the past years with the likes of Fernando Torres, David Villa, Raul, Fernando Morrientes and co, Novo has not had the chance to play for Spain.

The only thing stopping Novo now playing for Scotland along with Craig Levein thinking he is good enough for Scotland, is in the past the Home Nations of Britain have had a verbal agreement that only players with the countries blood in them can play for that national team. Whether Scotland continue with that agreement or not is unknown and we await what national manager Craig Levein has to say on this matter.

[craguuscool]

It'd be nice to see Novo playing for you but is it possible in the game?

KIU though, this is good.

[Teckle Toby]

craguuscool, on Jul 5 2009, 04:34 PM, said:

It'd be nice to see Novo playing for you but is it possible in the game?

KIU though, this is good.

Yep it came up in the media I was quite shocked by it myself tbh.

[Teckle Toby]

DONT DISTRUPT MY SQUAD AGAIN PLEAS SMITH
27th of October

Rangers manager Walter Smith has pleaded with Scotland manager to not disrupt his squad harmony again.

A month into the start of the new season the Scotland manager and the Scottish FA agreed on banning Rangers players Barry Ferguson, Allan McGregor and Kenny Miller from playing for Scotland ever again. This caused a distruption in the Rangers squad as club captain David Weir publicly stated that due to the banning no Rangers player would play for Scotland again, however striker Kris Boyd then publicly came out and said he would still play for Scotland. The squad was then said to be split in two with some siding with Weir and others siding with Boyd.

Walter Smith believes the disruption has cost the club the championship already as after ten games the club are currently sitting 10th in the league with just 3 wins this season. The shock start is said to be close to costing Smith's job and Smith believes it is down to what happened earlier in the year "I do think the whole national team suspension saga has possibly been the cause for our terrible start to the season. With Nacho now coming out saying he would like to play for Scotland that is more of our players being brought into the argument so I am hoping and praying Levein makes the right decision over whether to include Novo in his national squad".

What could well rub salt further into Smith's wounds is that the current favourite on SkyBet to take over if he is sacked from the Rangers job is Scotland manager Craig Levein! His current odds on skybet are 7/1 with other front runners being Burnley manager Owen Coyle who is currently 11/1 and Dundee United manager Jimmy Calderwood who is currently 15/1.

[Teckle Toby]

LORD GIVES THE OK FOR NOVO TO PLAY FOR SCOTLAND
1st of October 2008

The head of the Football Association Lord Triesman has given the Scottish FA the all clear to allow Spanish born striker Nacho Novo to play for Scotland.

Previously only players who were born in any of the home nations or had links to that nation through there family were allowed to play for that nation. However Lord Triesman has officially came out and given the all clear for the agreement to now be broken and allow Nacho Novo to play for Scotland.

"The agreement has came into question a lot in recent years with there being many argument for and against it. In the past couple of days the agreement has came up once more in a meeting between me and the other board of directors. We have decided to break the agreement and allow players who have not been capped by there national team before and have been in the country for five years or more play for that country".

This could now start a trend of players not born in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland playing for the nation. Question marks are now being put over whether players such as Manuel Almunia will play for England.

It is now upto Scotland manager Craig Levein to decide whether Rangers striker Nacho Novo is good enough for Scotland or not.

This post has been edited by Goodwillie: 05 July 2009 - 05:43 PM