Hi guys, im making a serious research, for a book in a all-time world cup, which will be simulated in severous programs. And i need a public vote. I want to know from all of you Scottish Fans, which are the best XI Scotland of all time for you. (I'll be doing this in all the main National Teams) please, help me if you can. I let my vote here. Simpson McGrain-Young-McQueen-Caldow Bremner-Baxter Alex James-Dalglish Law-Morton Coach: Jock Stein.
Goram McGrain - Buchan - Miller - Donachie Bremner - Souness - Baxter Dalglish - Law - Jordan Subs: Harvey, E. Gray, W. Johnston, Greig, Cooper. Manager: Stein
I'm too young to do this I'd be going on the basis of reputation and the little that i've seen, or I could make a team with the likes of, erm, the likes of...I give up...
Despite my age I can still question the inclusion of Hansen, all-time Liverpool great? - yes, all-time Scotland great? - erm, really? Although I suspect the club angle is being used quite a bit here...
Hansen was a great defender, overlooked for scotland in the same way jimmy johnstone was, IMO one of the best scottish defenders of all time, which was the question, not list by achievement in a scotland jersey.
Looking over your team I did note that it looked like for club achievements as much as anything. Hansen was always Liverpool first, scotland second, he still is.
Good cases for and against Hansen but Strachan ahead of Souness? No Dalglish? Of the 'Anfield Jocks' surely The Moustache and The Unintelligible gain a place ahead of The Pundit?
Nope, made my choices and stick by them, debated long and hard over dalglish and jordan, bremner over souness was no choice at all and strachan was the better player IMO, always thought so(shame hes not as good a manager as he was a player).
I'll wager this thread is destined to reflect the contributor's ages. Ronnie Simpsonn was, apparently, a great keeper, but some of us 40 somethings remember Rough, Leighton and Goram. I'm sure Dave Mackay will get a mention in some XI's but not many children of the 70's will vote for him? Bobby Collins or John Collins, you're age will show through your choice. No-one's mentioned McCoist yet, or Sandy Jardine, Willie Henderson, Charlie Nicholas, John Wark, Paul McStay ........ the list goes on!
Just an Englishman's thoughts -----------------------Ronnie Simpson Danny McGrain--Dave Mieklejohn---Willie Woodburn--Eric Caldow ----------------Dave Mackay--Graeme Souness Gordon Smith---------------------------------Jimmy Johnstone ----------------Alex James/Kenny Dalglish (either or) ---------------------------Denis Law With two wingers I would be reluctant to put Baxter in the middle, but you could put him in for Mackay or Souness if you were playing Alex James who would tend to play a bit deeper than Dalglish.
David Meiklejohn? He only played 15 times between 1922 and '31, OK there weren't as many internationals played but unless you're in your 80's how can you compare him to, say, Martin Buchan or Willie Miller? Gordon Smith, a good shout, as was Willie Woodburn (his grandson taught my son the bagpipes! ), but no Bremner? He's got to be in any All-time XI? Surely?!
There's a very good case to be made for Mieklejohn being the best player in the world in the 1920s. Obviously you cannot compare him directly with more modern players, but his reputation certainly puts him up for consideration. The fact that he won only 15 caps is of no great significance - Alex James only won 8 caps and Hughie Gallacher (who would be right up there in contention with Law at centre forward) only won 19. Only three players who played any international football before 1950 won more than 30 caps and each of those (George Young, Bobby Evans and Lawrie Reilly) started their intertnational careers after World War 2. As good as Bremner was, I think Mackay and Souness were better, but I would have no problem swapping him and Souness (I certainly wouldn't put him in for Mackay though).
GK- John Thompson RB- Danny McGrain CB- Alan Hansen CB- John Greig LB- Eric Caldow DM- Billy Bremmer AM- Kenny Dalglish RM/RW- Jimmy Johnstone LM/LW- Alan Morton CF- Jimmy McGrory CF- Hughie Gallacher Coach: Alex Ferguson (Once again I have included a coach only because of his nationality and not because of what he has done with the Scottish selection)