Desp Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 8 minutes ago, Swello said: The other main thing for me was that it was a case of a Motherwell player doing well and actually getting into the Scotland squad (and more importantly, team) - that's been a *really* rare thing over the years. I read on Saturday that Gallagher was the first Motherwell player to appear in a competitive Scotland game since Stephen Pearson against the Netherlands in November 2003. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nsr Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 34 minutes ago, Swello said: Scottish Football received wisdom is that if you are Scottish and have played at some point in the last ten years for Rangers, Celtic, Aberdeen, Hibs or Hearts - then a call-up is in the post, nae bother. The tier below those clubs - which over the past decade has really been Motherwell, Killie and St Johnstone - hasn't really existed in the eyes of successive Scotland managers. FTFY 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisGRAEME Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 7 minutes ago, Desp said: I read on Saturday that Gallagher was the first Motherwell player to appear in a competitive Scotland game since Stephen Pearson against the Netherlands in November 2003. Given that it came from SPLStats, I wouldn't argue this. While I take the point on this from @Swello, there aren't many I look back on and think 'Aye, hard done by' in an international sense. Reynolds I was put out by at the time, particularly when Kenneth got a call-up, but ultimately, he wasn't a Scotland player. I can't think of many more that have missed out. Even in our teams that finished second and were brilliant, Lasley/Hammell...nah, not internationalists for me, as much as I loved them. Arguably Turnbull/Campbell in with a shout, but that's an area where we've got nothing but bodies. Broadly, with some exceptions, players at our level (also St. Johnstone, Livi, Killie et al) are there because they're not of that quality. Maybe if they played there, they might get to it, but I've always been of the opinion that International football isn't a finishing school where you improve players, it's where you play your best players. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazylegsjoe Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 I started going to Motherwell games in 1997 and looking back on it rationally, I would say that Martyn Corrigan is probably the only player in that time who wasn't capped, but should feel aggrieved about it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisGRAEME Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 38 minutes ago, crazylegsjoe said: I started going to Motherwell games in 1997 and looking back on it rationally, I would say that Martyn Corrigan is probably the only player in that time who wasn't capped, but should feel aggrieved about it. Corrigan is the one that sticks out for me, really, but I'm never sure if that's just because I think he's dead sound for taking the hit and staying with us. The fact that we had Berti's revolving door at the time and Mo Ross getting consistent selection, I think there's probably a case for that. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swello Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 Yeh - I'm not trying to make the point that we've been particularly hard done to in terms of people being ignored (it was the early and mid-90's where that was last strongly the case) - just that Gallacher (and the Killie boys obviously) getting in the team feels significant given the rarity of town club players being picked over the years. There should be the same expectation levels that if a player is a stand-out in our league, it shouldn't matter if they are at a larger club or not.. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
well fan for life Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 Corrigan is the one that sticks out for me, really, but I'm never sure if that's just because I think he's dead sound for taking the hit and staying with us. The fact that we had Berti's revolving door at the time and Mo Ross getting consistent selection, I think there's probably a case for that.Think this is fair enough. Corrigan was outstanding for us for years at a time when everyone and their granny got a cap.As much as I love Richard Tait, even I thought the calls for him to be picked for Scotland last year were...a bit much. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil86 Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 in the Mccall era, maybe Jamie Murphy could have been in with a shout? in fact it baffles how long it took Jamie Murphy to get a call up full stop. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazylegsjoe Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 Don't get me wrong, he was a cracking young player for us, but as with most young players, he suffered badly from inconsistency. I think often his good form at Motherwell came in spurts and he could often be nullified on days where he wasn't on it, particularly against Celtic and Rangers. If you were asking which of our players of that era most deserved to be capped, he'd certainly have been ahead of Steven Saunders, but viewing it rationally, between a mixture of their own ability and those in front of them in the pecking order, no one particularly deserved a cap then in my eyes, to be honest. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
well fan for life Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 4 minutes ago, crazylegsjoe said: Don't get me wrong, he was a cracking young player for us, but as with most young players, he suffered badly from inconsistency. I think often his good form at Motherwell came in spurts and he could often be nullified on days where he wasn't on it, particularly against Celtic and Rangers. If you were asking which of our players of that era most deserved to be capped, he'd certainly have been ahead of Steven Saunders, but viewing it rationally, between a mixture of their own ability and those in front of them in the pecking order, no one particularly deserved a cap then in my eyes, to be honest. Jesus wept. I'd forgotten Saunders got called up. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisGRAEME Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 3 hours ago, well fan for life said: As much as I love Richard Tait, even I thought the calls for him to be picked for Scotland last year were...a bit much. A bit of a sliding doors moment, that. I reckon it must've been pretty tight between him and Stephen O'Donnell, as I don't think there was a huge amount between the two of them. O'Donnell probably a bit pacier, and perhaps a bit more solid defensively, whereas Tait has a better delivery and being two-footed has been a weirdly useful trait for us as well. O'Donnell went and as such, had the jersey and has collected a few caps, had Tait gone, I think he'd have done pretty similarly, and have a few caps himself. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casagolda Posted November 19, 2019 Author Share Posted November 19, 2019 (edited) I think for a Motherwell player to be called up, in general, you need a bit of good timing. You have to be in form, at a time when a gap opens up due to injuries/suspensions for others. Which is pretty much what has happened for Gallagher. As has been pointed out by already, generally speaking, I don’t think our players are at that level. Some might develop and get there, however chances are it’ll probably be after they’ve left Fir Park. I think in my time watching Motherwell, I’d say Faddy and Turnbull are the only two who instantly stick out as players I thought should be in the Scotland squad on merit- even while they were still at Fir Park. Edited November 19, 2019 by Casagolda 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelmen Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 I would much rather see a player from one of the unfashionable teams in Scotland than a second rate English guy who has a Scottish granny getting a call up / game just because he plays in the English leagues.Gallagher deserves his call ups and game because he has been one of the better Scottish centre half’s this season. Doesn’t matter who he plays for if your playing well you should get a chance. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YassinMoutaouakil Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 Steven Saunders should have had 100 caps. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gianfranco Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 If it wasn’t for the injuries he’d be playing alongside Ramos at Real Madrid. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neildrake Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 I often think if you are a defender at one of the smaller clubs, Well, Killie St Johnstone etc then your job is harder than a defender at Celtic. One of the most bizarre call ups recently was the boy Hendry of Celtic. He had played almost every game in a Dundee side getting battered every week, got transferred to Celtic in January and after being in and out of Celtics team got capped. Now Celtic are trying to punt him. With Declan in the side I have taken an interest again on how Scotland get on. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swami Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 I’d imagine Robinson will be among the front runners for the Tottenham job now. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pettigrew Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 Anyone attending the Hall of Fame dinner on Saturday night? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YassinMoutaouakil Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 Not until I'm nominated. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swello Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 Pleased with that - he's looked the part considering we picked him up from the bargain basement.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.