Our inglorious bastard of a leader, Craig Fowler, goes through the football related questions you’ve sent us over the past week.
Who are the top ten players to come through the lower leagues? – Seth (@Scotsmo)
Ok, to answer this I had to set out certain criteria. One day it would definitely be worth to look back and put an All-time team together of players who started their careers in the lower leagues. However, my flight to Budapest to attend a 17-man stag do leaves in eight hours and I haven’t even packed my bag yet (or slept). So, for the meantime, this top ten will be currently active Scottish players who played their first games in the lower leagues. They will also be ranked in order of their current abilities and not what they’ve achieved over their careers. I also apologise if there is anyone obvious that I missed out. I looked at the last few Scotland squads to get the best insight into who should be on the list. If there’s someone you think deserves to be on there, please leave a note in the comments.
10. James McCarthy (Hamilton)
This is special inclusion in at number ten because he’s essentially forgone his Scottishness to play for his boyhood heroes: the Republic of Ireland. Otherwise he’d be much higher up the list, probably even at number one, but I’ll be buggered if I’m giving him that sort of distinction.
9. Andy Webster (Arbroath)
His powers are certainly diminishing – too ****ing right, I watched the 2013 League Cup Final – but Coventry have done a nice job of hauling themselves back up the League One table and “Spider” has been a great addition to their defence. Known on JKB as “the stroller”.
8. Gordon Greer (Clyde)
Hey, I too was sceptical when I saw his name in the starting line-up for Scotland. “Wasn’t that the guy the average defender at Kilmarnock? The guy that partnered Simon Ford?” But I have to say that our defence has looked pretty tight whenever he’s played so he definitely deserves an inclusion on this list.
7. Don Cowie (Ross County)
After going from County to Inverness – a rivalry that seems to do that more often than the way Inter, Milan and Juve swap players – Cowie played in the same midfield as Ian Black and John Rankin and, as unbelievable as this is to admit now, probably drew the least attention from the mainstream out of those three. Another who is finding age catching up with him, but a great two-way midfielder who deserved much more Scotland recognition over the years.
6. James McArthur (Hamilton)
A dependable midfielder if there ever was one. Doesn’t do anything exceptional, just does everything very well. I strongly touted him as a 2009/10 player of the year candidate back in the days when no-one outside Old Firm players were even quoted.
5. Craig Conway (Ayr United)
If anyone listened to early additions of the podcast you would have known my unwavering love for the former Dundee United winger. I just thought he had everything you want in a wide player. Plus, he was that old school type that really ran at the opponents, making him great to watch. Not getting a regular start so much these days but you’ve got to be pretty good to get onto the bench of a English Premier League team, even if they are Cardiff.
4. Gary Mackay Steven (Airdrie United)
Might be a bit of stretch to have him above Conway. Ah sod it, GMS is the future.
3. Craig Bryson (Clyde)
Why this guy hasn’t been called up to the Scotland squad this past season is anyone’s guess. He’s been the best part of an improved Derby County side and has netted 15 times. Looked a good player at Clyde, even better at Kilmarnock and has continued his progression. Hearts supposedly tried to sign him when Jefferies returned to Tynecastle. Our bid of next to bugger all was deservedly laughed away by Killie.
2. Andrew Robertson (Queen’s Park)
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1. Leigh Griffiths (Livingston)
Ha! I actually forgot he used to play for Livi, absolutely banged them in as well. Bit controversial to have him over more established players in this list and some may point out that Bryson, for example, is performing better than Griffiths did this season in England at a higher level. Well football’s not always that black and white and I just think he’s a rare talent. So there.
Who would have the best XI if you could only select players eligible for Scotland? And who has the worst? – Niall Duffin (@NiallDuffin)
Ah yes, this should be a fun that will soon have everybody absolutely seething. I’ll go through the teams one by one so we can all have a look and then I’ll give my thoughts at the end. I’ve recalled some guys from loan deals but apologies if I’ve forgotten anyone. Here goes nothing:
Aberdeen (3-5-2): Langfield; Anderson, Considine, Reynolds; Low, Robson, Pawlett*, Jack, Robertson; Smith, Shankland
*English but eligible for Scotland through the “Andy Driver” rule**
** Which, ironically, never ended up applying to Andy Driver.
Celtic (4-4-2): Hart*; Toshney, Mulgrew, Fraser, Chalmers; Forrest, Brown, Henderson, Watt; Commons, Griffiths
* I spent five minutes searching for a goalkeeper, even their under-20s guys aren’t even Scottish. Christ knows how old this lad is.
Dundee United (4-2-3-1): McCallum; Wilson, Watson, Souttar, Robertson; Rankin, Paton; Armstrong, Gauld, Mackay Steven; Graham
Hearts (4-4-1-1): MacDonald; Paterson, McKay, Wilson, McHattie; Smith, Robinson, Hamill, Nicolson; Holt; Carrick*
*The current team, basically.
Hibs (4-2-3-1): Murdoch; Forster, Hanlon, Stevenson, Booth; Thomson, Robertson; Harris, Craig, Stanton; Cummings
Inverness CT (3-5-2): Esson; Howarth, Cooper, Shinnie; Brown, Polworth, Cheyne, Baldy, McKenzie, Ross; Sutherland, Christie*
*!?
Kilmarnock (4-4-2): Samson; Barbour, McKeown, Barr, Ashcroft, O’Hara; McKenzie, Slater, Nicolson, Johnston; Boyd, Muirhead*
*Was tempted to include Pascali because he’s been here so long!
Motherwell (4-4-1-1): Stewart; Reid, Murray, McManus, Hammell; Carswell, Leitch, Lasley, Vigurs; McFadden, Moore
Ross County (4-4-2): Brown; Dingwall*, Boyd, McLean; Saunders; Brittain, Quinn, Kettlewell, Cooper; Glen, Ross
*Not made up. The team from Dingwall have a young player called Tony Dingwall.
Partick Thistle (4-2-3-1): Gallacher; O’Donnell, Balatoni, Mair, Taylor-Sinclair; Fraser, Welsh; Craigen, Bannigan, Erskine*; Doolan
*I think United will be cool about me not recalling him
St Johnstone (4-4-2): Clark; Mackay, Anderson, Wright, Easton; Miller, Davidson, Millar, Wotherspoon; May, Kane
St Mirren (4-5-1): Hughes; Naismith, McGregor, McAusland, Kelly; Teale, McGinn, McLean, McGowan, Wylde; Thompson
The ability to draw on Commons, Griffiths, Brown and Mulgrew would make Celtic an excellent attacking side and they’ve still got enough elite talent there to be competitive, but there is no way I can say they’d be the best team with that defence and a possible 12-year old in goals.
Now that I’ve disregarded an easy choice I’ve made things incredibly difficult for myself to pick a winner. I love United’s team going forward but that is a very weak defence with an inexperienced keeper. St Mirren are about the same and would perhaps finish ahead of United were it not for the fact that, they too, have a teenager between the sticks. Hearts would in contention as would Hibs, but both would be let down by their lack of firepower in attack. I think it’s a toss up between Motherwell and St Johnstone. Both are top six sides at present and retain a real core of their team. Pushed into picking one or the other, I’ll go for St Johnstone. Their defence is stronger and Zander Clark at least has experience of playing first team professional football (at Queen of the South).
The worst team is easy! Ross County would be strugglers without the influx of January signings and a ropey back four weakened further by the inexperience at full-back. Although, ultimately, they would definitely stay up for being better than Inverness. The Butcher management team brought in many a young player over the last three seasons but the majority came from England or Ireland. I mean, seriously, have you even heard of half that team?
When he hangs up his boots what will be made of James McFadden’s career? Should he have achieved a lot more? – Clifford Alvarez (via email)
I remember posing the question at the height of McFadden’s powers as to whether he could become Scotland’s highest ever goalscorer. It sounds completely ridiculous now but you have to remember just how good McFadden looked back then, the fact that he was one of the first names of the team sheet, was playing in the English Premier League and had many equally positive years ahead of him. So there is absolutely no doubt that he has underachieved. His talent and the position he found himself in should have made for a better last chapter than returning to the Scottish top flight and being a decent to good player on a strong Motherwell side.
What sets McFadden’s underachievement apart from hundreds of potential top class footballers across Scotland in the last twenty years is that his failings were outwith his control. He wasn’t an Andy Ritchie who refused to train properly, content to be the big fish in a small pond at Morton rather than stay on at Jock Stein’s Celtic. He wasn’t a Garry O’Connor who went AWOL on the eve of a Scotland match. And he wasn’t one of the countless members who liked to drink more than, well, not drinking. McFadden was a little hot heated in his youth but that phase soon passed and he was a good professional. Then the injuries started to pile up. He may have already dropped down the league to leave Everton for Birmingham City, though that doesn’t necessarily mean that would have been the end of him. We’ve seen many players through the years deal with such rejections, shake it off and use the motivation to improve themselves. Realistically, between his last season at Everton and his arrival at Fir Park, you could say McFadden lost three season’s worth of football. The appearance made at Old Trafford at the tail end of the 2011/12 season showed that he was still highly thought of, but the time out had robbed him of all career momentum and diminished his abilities to compete regularly at the top level. I could go on to mention how it was a crucial juncture in his career and so on, but it really doesn’t matter at what point it occurs, three years out is going to irrevocably damage anyone’s progress.
It’s a shame that we never got to see someone of EPL quality leading the line for Scotland for a number of years. Although, at the same time, I’m glad Faddy’s back in the Scottish top flight. His technique and skill still betters 99% of those currently in this country, and there’s a certain nostalgia attached to his presence.
How do you think Scottish football fans would treat an openly gay player? – Tony (@tonyterrace)
Cheers Bash! Make things easy for me, why don’t you? Well, I did say I’d try to answer every question posed to us, so let’s give this a shot.
The “coming out” of Jason Collins and Michael Sam in America over the last 12 months should herald the beginning of a changing culture between gay people and professional sports. The latter case, in particular, really surprised me with the way in which he gained acceptance from his teammates. Collins was a different story. He had spent over a decade in the NBA playing for numerous franchises and earning the respect of countless teammates and coaches. The type of person who could change ignorant minds because he had been well known for so long. The immediate thought wouldn’t be “there’s that gay guy” it would be “there’s Jason Collins”. Sam, on the other hand, was a college student. He would have been known on a wide scale, to an extent, but only for 24 months at best, and this same time frame would apply to his teammates. People who, supposedly, don’t have fully developed minds. Instead, not only did his teammates accept his sexuality, they even kept it hidden for a year. That’s absolutely astounding. You would think that as soon as anybody on the team who had a problem with gay people heard this news they would immediately leak the story to the media, in an attempt to make Sam’s life as difficult as possible. Instead, around 50 teenagers and young adults, not to mention at least half a dozen coaches, kept their mouth shut. Tony, you can’t even keep a trip to Krakow secret from the groom for a couple of months, imagine trying to hold that juicy bit of gossip in!
To me it shows that there is a changing for the better in Western society. It would have been very hard for those players to keep that secret, unless they really didn’t give two shits what his preferences were. Which is exactly how it should be. So would Scottish football be just as accepting? It’s possible, but I don’t think so. And here’s why.
It starts with the way that people watch football in this country. Yes there is a degree of obsession with the American fan, but most refrain from continually screaming obscenities at the opposition players throughout the match. And while fans will boo and wind-up opponents, it doesn’t go to the extent is does over here. Put this way, if American football crowds sang “Dean Shiels, he’s only got one eye”, the national media would be absolutely disgusted with the supporters and sanctions or fines would be called for. While that sort of behaviour is not accepted over here, there is a degree of tolerance that it is an unseemly part of our football society and “that’s just the way it is”. Would a gay player be left alone by opposing fans? Or would he be taunted mericilously for 90 minutes? Unfortunately, I think we all know the answer.
The second part concerns the dressing room. Teammates, unless they are complete ****s, would be pretty accepting of it. It’s very rare nowadays, even in a working class background, that you don’t come across someone who is gay and interact with them on a some sort of consistent basis. Graham Le Saux’s eye-opening article about what he was subjected to should be taking into account, but I believe that attitudes have even changed since the 1990s. That being said, I don’t think it would be a universally accepted change within the walls of the dressing room. That’s because I just don’t think that Scottish football players have the same levels of intellect as the American sports stars. Over there, you have to be smart enough to a certain level to enter college in the first place, regardless of whether you have a sports scholarship or not. Now, I’m not saying that greater academic intelligence automatically means a heightened sense of acceptance, but the more we know about the world the more we learn and begin to understand other human beings different from ourselves. As I previously said, for the the most part Scottish players would be fine, I just think there would be a greater chance of an arrogant wee ned spouting his bigoted views. All that being said, the level of religious fanaticism over here isn’t quite severe as it is in American, so you certainly wouldn’t get a Scottish football writer saying that it is wrong in the eyes of God.
In conclusion, I think we’re on our way, aided by the changing of society for the better over the last 15 years, but I just don’t think we’re ready just yet. Hopefully it will come soon enough and we’ll be ready to celebrate that when it happens, and then completely ignore the story for the rest of said player’s career. As it should be.
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