Scotland (National Football)

Glasgow, Scotland.

Oh dear! Following Scotland’s 3-0 victory against the Faroe Islands on Tuesday night, some of the football community have lost their heads and are now guilty of the same hyperbolic drivel uttered by English commentators about their team that usually enrages the entire country.

Yes, Scotland played well and Barry Bannan, in particular, had an impressive debut. But the poor individuals that comparing the diminutive 20 year old to the likes of Xavi Hernandez, Andries Iniesta and, God forbid, Jimmy Johnstone, really need a long lie down in a darkened room.

Listening to this nonsense, my mind drifts back to a spring evening at Ibrox Park in 1993, when a young Duncan Ferguson “terrorised” the German defence in a friendly international. Although he failed to score, Duncan was hailed as Scottish football’s new saviour.

The hype was enough that summer for Rangers chairman David Murray, whose ego trip was by then in full flow, to blow his club’s entire transfer budget on the inexperienced Ferguson.

Alas, with Mark Hateley firmly established as number one striker at Ibrox, the move backfired: Ferguson was no more than a reserve de luxe during his brief time there and any hopes that Scottish football had of him becoming another Dennis Law or Joe Jordan ended when he turned his back on the national team, following a jail sentence and subsequent twelve match S.F.A  domestic ban for an alleged head butt on an opponent while playing for Rangers.

During my time following the Scottish national team, others have been hailed as our new messiah but only to fail to fulfil their potential: Charlie Nicholas, Paul McStay, Ian Durrant, Derek Ferguson, Eoin Jess and Charlie Miller, to name but six, have all fallen by the wayside despite promising much in their youth.

A few years ago, James McFadden was the next big thing, but he has struggled to hold down a starting place at either Everton or his present club in the English Premiership despite his “wonder” goal for Scotland against France three years ago. The Birmingham forward has failed to develop into the player many expected him to become when he first emerged. Injuries have been a major factor, but the weight of expectation has also played a part.

It is perfectly understandable given the dreadful start to Craig Levein’s reign as national team coach. He and the media try to accentuate any positive they can find, but some balance is required. It was only a friendly against the minnows of international football and heaping pressure on young players is counterproductive.

While it must be hoped that Bannan avoids the pitfalls off the field that befell Duncan Ferguson, Charlie Miller and Charlie Nicholas and the injury problems that dogged Durrant and Jess, this is a boy who has made only six appearances for Aston Villa in the Premiership!

Danny Wilson, the eighteen year old centre half who scored on his debut on Tuesday, is another being tipped to lead the nation to a new footballing promised land, but has yet to start a league game for his new club, Liverpool. In truth, he may regret leaving the Rangers first team squad where he gained experience in the S.P.L. and Champions League for the obscurity of the Anfield reserves.

Until these players and others are completing a couple of seasons as Premiership regulars, we should leave them in peace to develop as footballers as well as men rather than burden them with the expectation that they will reverse Scottish football’s decline.

Charlie Adam is a case in point. Arguably our best player on Tuesday night until his injury, he was written off by many when he failed to make the grade at Rangers. He rebuilt his career away from the limelight at Blackpool and is now one of the stars of the English Premiership.

Rangers and their supporters will rue the day they let him leave for a song. Had he been given time to develop at Ibrox, he would have been a key player by now.

It is understandable that since Scotland’s record of producing homegrown players over the past two decades is so poor that any young player who shows promise is instantly hailed as our new star. But, by now, the people doing this should know better.

Today’s bright young thing can easily become tomorrow’s forgotten man, usually propelled there on a tidal wave of hype.

Bannan, Wilson and others may develop into a team of world beaters, but they are more likely to do so if we give them time and peace to learn their trade. Rather than go overboard following a good start to their international careers against the Faroe Islands, we should allow them to develop into the players they are destined to be!

Former SFA Chief, Jim Farry Dies Aged Only 56

Former Scottish Football Association chief executive Jim Farry has died of a heart attack.

The 56 year old had his family around him when he passed away at Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride. Wife Elaine and children Alyson, 28 and Ewan, 26 were last night at the family home in East Kilbride in shock at Jim’s death yesterday.

Jim grew up in a tenement in Holybrook Street, Govanhill, Glasgow and went on to become a high flying football bureaucrat. The son of an East End cop, he worked as a landscape gardener, milkman and window cleaner before starting life in Scottish football administration.

He joined the SFA in 1972 as an administrative assistant and at just 24 became the youngest-ever secretary of the Scottish Football League and later the SFA’s youngest secretary.

In 1990, he became the youngest ever chief executive when he took over from Ernie Walker and went on to play a key role in a plan to revamp the National Stadium, Hampden Park.

While his predecessors had left the post after enduring years of flak, Jim thought he would take a different path. However, he was sacked for gross misconduct after a panel found him guilty of deliberately delaying the registration of Portugese player Jorge Cadete, preventing him from playing for Celtic.

Jim insisted he had done nothing wrong but Celtic chairman Fergus McCann would not let the matter drop and it finally resulted, in March 1999, in Mr. Farry being shown the door.

The high ranking official also hit the headlines after receiving death threats when criticised for poor judgment over a decision to go-ahead with Scotland’s game against Belarus in 1997 on the day of Princess Diana’s funeral.

Jack Steedman, ex-owner of Clydebank FC said Jim was “the best executive officer Scottish football has ever had.”

(Article originally posted here.)

The following is the official press statement released by the Scottish Football League in regards to the recent financial situation at professional football club, Dundee FC.

Dundee Football Club

The Scottish Football League regrets the current situation that Dundee F.C. finds itself in for the second time in seven years.

We are fully aware of the impact this situation has had on all concerned, especially players, staff and fans of the club.

The SFL has a duty to protect the integrity and on-going smooth running of the league.

Our members and stakeholders expect nothing less.

Following a thorough process, as endorsed by the administrator, the board has decided that Dundee Football Club Limited is guilty of conduct contrary to league rules, the interests of the league and its member clubs, and the following sanctions will be imposed:

1. That Dundee F.C. be deducted 25 league championship points with immediate effect.
2. That, with immediate effect, a player registration embargo be imposed until the club comes out of administration.
3. That if the club is still in administration by 31st March, 2011, the board will reconsider the matter and will deal with the club as it sees fit.

It should be noted that Dundee F.C. has a right of appeal against these sanctions.

We are of the opinion that lessons are not being learned.

For example, clubs have to realise that, going forward, they cannot treat their HMRC obligations as something akin to a credit card.

Following a recent mandate from our clubs, the SFL will now prepare the introduction of an early warning system, designed to allow us to intervene at any stage, if advised by HMRC that clubs are defaulting on their obligations.

We also wish to reiterate that duties of care and financial diligence are of the utmost importance for any director or official of any club.

In the face of current challenges, our ultimate aim is to ensure that clubs survive with integrity.

Professional and robust financial management procedures are key to the future security of all clubs.

Scotland Get Out Of Jail in 97th Minute

Scotland's European double header is finally over, thankfully!

Once again, in true Scottish fashion, we made it difficult for ourselves against the so called minnows of Lithuania and Liechtenstein, leaving to it to an incredible 97th minute against lowly Liechtenstein at Hampden Park, to manage a winning goal. On Friday evening, the Scots fought out a tough match against an ever improving Lithuania side, who are no pushovers, as they proved in their fixture tonight against Czech Republic, winning 1-0 away.

In hindsight, the Scots walking away with a point from that fixture seems like a good result. Tonights match though, against the tiny country of Liechtenstein was seen as an opportunity to get some goal difference on the board and settle some nerves in the battle to qualify for the Euros in Poland and Ukraine in two years time.

Things did not go as planned as Craig Levein played as strong a team as he could pick with Boyd returning up front, along with McFadden. Kenny Miller was also in a front line that on paper should be able to score barrowloads of goals.

The visitors took the lead in the 46th minute and silenced the Hampden crowd, who outnumbered the entire Liechtenstein country population the night and to that point, no one could begrudge them their goal.

The Scots looked at sorts with themselves with no cohesion and were struggling to make a breakthrough and only forced a save from the visitors keeper in 57 minutes. However, up stepped Kenny Miller in the 63rd minute to ease the relief of the 37,000 strong tartan army in the stands, with a superb strike from around the penalty spot straight into the the top of the net.

Scotland had plenty more chances before the end to tie the match up but it took a 97th minute header from defender Stephen McManus to win the game and perhaps more surprisingly, put the Scottish top of their group that has Spain and Czech Republic in it.

Craig Levein is no doubt relieved that the result went our way tonight but he must be worried about the performance and where he can change it to improve our chances as we face the Czechs and Spain next month in the next round of matches. However, tonight there were a combined 5 million sighs of relief as the winning goal went in and this must surely be our get out of jail free card used up already in these championships.

In the wake of Scotland’s disappointing 3-0 defeat to Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, George Burley has again come under pressure and we've learnt that he's now lost his job as Scotland Manager

The SFA and fans could probably just about take missing out on the World Cup, but losing to a below-par Wales in such disappointing style was the last straw for all concerned.

But in truth, could Burley really have done any better with the current crop of players. In this article, I’ll give my view on George Burley’s position as Scotland manager and the current state of the Scottish team. If you’d be kind to leave your comments that’d be great!

The Scottish football team, at the moment, are a side that is lacking in inspiration and one that’s lacking any real sustained class throughout the team.

Tonight it’s again being reported that George Burley is looking in danger of losing his job. Though it could be argued that the ex-Ipswich manager has taken the team as far as they can currently go anyway. That’s not a reflection on Burley, but the fact that the Scottish game is struggling, and this is being reflected in the teams performances.

When Burley took over there was much optimism that the side could target at least second place in their world cup qualifying group, as long as they could edge out Norway. Under Walter Smith and Alex McLeish the team almost qualified for Euro 2008, being pushed into third on the final night of the group qualifying with a brave 2-1 defeat at the hands of Donadoni’s Italy at Hampden in November 2007. It was a glorious failure for the Scots, whose performances were nothing short of exceptional. Had it not been for a poor performance in Georgia and some poor officiating in Ukraine, the Scots could have possibly won the group.

With McLeish moving onto Birmingham City, a new manager was needed. There was talk of Graeme Souness, Mark McGhee, and even George Graham taking over but the SFA went to Burley with the aim of getting the team to the 2010 World Cup. At the time of his appointment, many people believed that Burley was not the first choice for the job with candidates, but that he could slowly move the team forward.

Since Burley took the job the team has won only three of the 14 games that the team has played. In those games the team has scored only eight goals. Four of those came in two wins against Iceland in the World Cup Qualifying Group. Aside from those wins against Iceland, Burley has only tasted victory once more, and that came against Macedonia at Hampden. The fact that the team are not scoring enough, or creating enough chances is also playing its part.

Rangers’s striker Kris Boyd has been left out of the international set up partly due to the striker not making himself available, but surely Burley could have done more to include the striker in the team. Even before his exclusion from the team, Burley really should have brought on the Rangers hitman against Norway early on in the Qualifying campaign. Instead, on came Chris Iwelumno who fluffed one of the easiest chances in the world that goal-poacher Boyd would have scored in his sleep, and two vital points were dropped.

Sadly that has not been the case for Burley, as the team just has not got to grips with games since his appointment. He certainly is not helped by the fact that the team is lacking talent, and that was not helped by the actions of Alan McGregor, and Barry Ferguson who have since been dropped from the team for disciplinary reasons. Both players were rightfully dropped for their part in a late-night drinking session after Holland beat the team 3-0 in Amsterdam, and for subsequent hand gestures made from the bench during the win over Iceland at Hampden.

Of course players are responsible for their actions, but after their actions after the Holland game, the players should not have been allowed on the bench for the Iceland game, and been thrown out of the squad there and then. Had that been the case, perhaps the media might have praised Burley more, and the only attention on the team would have been solely on how the team did on the pitch. Others claim that perhaps Burley and the SFA could have gone as far as to not make a deal out of McGregor and Ferguson's actions, and make sure that they were still involved, for the sake of the team.

Burley is a decent manager at heart, but a manager is only as good as his players. The current group of players are inexperienced overall with not alot of the squad having played European football. Darren Fletcher is doing a good job as the skipper, and is a player who any manager can help build a team around. James McFadden and Scott Brown aside, there is very little imagination in the side, and as a result the team is struggling when it really matters.

This is a reflection on the Scottish game, which is getting worse by the year; this is being highlighted by Celtic and Rangers performances in Europe this year. Rangers 4-1 home defeat at Ibrox to Dan Petrescu’s Unirea Urziceni was nothing short of a national embarrassment, at least Celtic bars a defeat in Israel have shown pride in their performances.

During and after the Wales game, the Scottish fans in attendance at the game could be heard jeering the team and calling for Burley to quit. The Tartan-Army have lost faith in Burley, and although it’s perhaps harsh on the manager, perhaps this would be a good time for a new start.

Should Burley be forced out of his job in the next couple of days the SFA have to make a decision, and whoever the next manager will be, he has to be given time to build a team that can challenge for a play off place for Euro 2012. Scotland will be seeded in the third spot in the team so when the draw’s made the team will be on the back foot straight away.

First things first, the new manager needs to improve the fitness and team spirit of the team, which should ensure Scotland put in respectable performances and beat sides that they are expected to beat.  My choice for the new manager would be Jimmy Calderwood who did a fine job managing Aberdeen and has the experience over the other leading contender in Craig Levein of Dundee United

Only then can the team move forward as it's looking more likely that it could be another decade before the team reach a major finals. That would be a shame on guys like Fletcher, McFadden, Brown, and the returning Craig Gordon, but that's the truth sadly.

I may only be 24 but I most certainly know about and have a long association with the term “glorious failure.”

Many must look at tonight’s result and say “I’m glad I’m not Scottish” and many Scots tonight may wish they were not but not me.

I’m proud of the team tonight, a team which finally looked like they deserved to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa next year.

“Glorious failure”

Scotland, even in my life time, have always promised so much but delivered so little, and have in fact got less reward for playing well than they have for playing poorly.

Glorious failure is going out with your head held high, defeat when you have given your all and is the Scottish national football team’s favourite result.

Tonight we pounded Holland, yet it was tonight our World Cup dream is well and truly dead.

The past

In 1996 we were down against England at the European Championships by a goal to nil but were coming back into the game and looking dangerous when they won a penalty. Had Gary McAllister managed to avoid David Seaman with the penalty, we would surely have gone on to win?

1998, and Scotland are at their second major football tournament in succession. They open the World Cup against Brazil in front of the world coming back from a goal down to level through a John Collins penalty, and not even the best team in the world were going to beat them. They beat ourselves however, as the ball ended up in our own net off the unfortunate Tom Boyd.

In the play off for Euro 2000 we lost the first leg 2-0 to England at Hampden Park and to the world, the tie appeared over but not according to Scotland.

The “glorious failures” outplayed their rivals that day and at 1-0 up Christian Dailly’s bullet header was somehow saved by that man Seaman again. Had it gone in no-one in the ground was in any doubt as to who would have gone on to win that tie?

Two years ago Scottish football once again began to flourish after a half a decade in decline, but in true Scottish spirit we did it in a European Championship qualifying group containing the World Champions Italy, former Euro and World Champions France and the not-so-bad Ukraine led by Andriy Shevchenko.

Scotland needed a win with two games to go following two magnificent victories over the French but a loss to Georgia set up the usual epic battle. A final game at home to the World Champions which Scotland simply had to win.

Scotland came back from a goal down to draw level thanks to Barry Ferguson and with 10 minutes to go Hampden saw James McFadden, the hero of the campaign, at the back post but the fans favourite couldn’t steer his effort on target and the dream was once again over.

Eleven years in the darkness

So to the nineth of the nine, 2009, and Scotland once again need a miracle at home to one of the world’s top nations. It is Holland this time and thanks to earning one point from two ties with Norway, nothing but a win will do once again.

It has been over 11 long years since the “glorious failure” against Brazil in France and Scotland is hungrier than it has ever been to once again join the world’s elite at a major tournament.

Holland had already qualified but were looking to make it eight wins from eight in group nine at Hampden against a Scotland team minus arguably its two best players. Playmaker James McFadden was suspended and keeper Craig Gordon was injured.

But it didn’t stop Scotland who arguably put in one of their all time best performances against a team ranked number three on the planet.

They ignored Dirk Kuyt’s early effort off the post, and from that moment on, there was only ever going to be one winner....or was there?

A legitimate Steven Naismith goal was disallowed; we twice hit the woodwork through Naismith and Kenny Miller; twice powerful shots spun wide off the Dutch keeper, and sadly, twice Scotland failed to score with chances inside the six yard box.

My country had stabbed the Dutch to within an inch of their lives’ but without landing a fatal wound, Holland were always destined to strike the killing blow, and substitute Eljero Elia’s goal ten minutes from time left a country in despair.

But despair for me has been overcome by pride.

Never before have I witnessed my country destroy a world beater, but tonight in front of over 50,000 of the best fans on earth, they went toe-to-toe with the Dutch and in my eyes, gave them a total footballing lesson, before inevitably succumbing to their destiny of “glorious failures.”

It may not be an appearance at a World Cup but it will just have to do.

Darren Fletcher—"The World Cup is a pinnacle of any player's career."

The Scotland captain believes an appearance at the World Cup finals in South Africa next year will surpass anything he has achieved at club level with Manchester United.

Fletcher's last appearance in the finals of a major competition was in the 1998 World Cup in France.

Victory for George Burley's side in tomorrow's Group 9 qualifier against Norway in the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo will take them one step closer to a play-off place.

He is looking for some long-overdue international success to sit alongside the trophies and medals he has won at United.

"There is still lots that I want to achieve at Manchester United," he said. "I've not done too bad but what is in the past is in the past, I look to the future. I would love to represent my country at a major finals, I think every player would.

"The World Cup is a pinnacle of any player's career and most of our squad haven't experienced that and the country hasn't achieved that for a long time.

"So we are desperate to do it. We hope we can finish second and get in the play-offs and if we did then we would fancy our chances against most teams."

The Red Devils' midfielder shares a dressing room at Old Trafford with world superstars who regularly reach the big stage with their respective countries.

Fletcher believes a trip to South Africa will put Scotland back on the map with players that have grown fed-up of teasing him about Scotland's lack of success.

"It's all good fun," Fletcher said. "But it has stopped now because they have got used to Scotland not qualifying and they just leave me alone—so I'm desperate for that to change.

We are all desperate to play on a World stage, nothing else matters and they can give us as much stick as they want."

"The squad has evolved," he said. "We have a lot of players in the wider areas, like Kris Commons and Ross McCormack, who like to attack.

"That was not always the case in previous when we had a lot of central midfielders and similar players. We have exciting players and it has given us more options."

Fletcher's position, of course, is guaranteed, but the Manchester United play-maker insists the captaincy will have no effect on his game.

"There is no extra responsibility on me," he said. "I am not going to change just because I am the captain. I won't shout more, I will do my usual thing. I talk before the game but there are a lot of voices in the squad."

"Mountains will fall, cities will crumble, skeletal horsemen will ride chariots of fire across a bleeding moon...so it is said these things and more will come to pass when Sir Alex of the Fergusons leaves the Old Trafford dugout for the last time."—[Matthew: 4/6/09]

By the end of next season Sir Alex, the most successful manager in British football history, will be 68 and if the rumours are true, saying a heartfelt goodbye to the Old Trafford faithful who have been his sole audience in his almost quarter-century stay at the theatre of dreams.

We've all read the list of successors from top to bottom and quite frankly, all of them don't look close to filling in Alex Ferguson's shoes at Old Trafford.

Mark Hughes is Manchester City manager, a disqualification from the running on its own merits to many Manchester United supporters. He doesn't seem capable of handling prima donna superstars like Robinho; he would surely bomb with Christiano Ronaldo, et al.

Steve Bruce has just taken over at Sunderland as he continues to build his solid reputation as nothing more than a fireman (but a damn good fireman).

Previously, Roy Keane did his reputation a world of harm towards the end of his reign of, if the stories are to be believed, terror, at Sunderland.

Bryan Robson? Paul Ince? Carlos Quieroz? Steve McClaren? Brian Kidd?!....not in a million years. Even old rival Jose Mourinho has extended his contract with Inter.

As it stands, Ferguson is quite simply, irreplaceable.

This question arose when Sir Alex previously announced his retirement in the 2001-02 season. The main candidate in the running was then-Roma coach Fabio Cappello.

But it is rumoured Cappello will retire after England is knocked out of the next World Cup on penalties.

Of course history tells us Ferguson stayed on after that announcement in 2002 to win another CL and yet more PL crowns to add to his peerless trophy cabinet.

The man is a pure, unadulterated winner. Will the next manager have the level of respect and freedom of control currently afforded by the Glazers?

For the Glazers, this could be the chance they've been waiting for to strip the club he built to its bare bones, as the titanic debt saddled during good times becomes too much to bear in the coming bad times.

This is to say nothing of the players, of course. Players like Giggs, Neville and Scholes, coming towards the end of their careers, will surely follow their master out the exit door.

Other players who owe their fortunes to Ferguson, the likes of O'Shea, Fletcher, Van Der Sar, Brown, Nani, Carrick, and certainly perma-crocked Hargreaves might not be to the liking of the next manager.

The beauty of Sir Alex was that he made sure the players in his squad complemented each other, even if they weren't world beaters individually.

Coaches like Mike Phelan and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may leave when the current regime ends. Ferguson's famed scouting and youth system may well wither on the vine. The network of footballing contacts that Ferguson took 20 years to build will lay idle.

Yes, it seems Ferguson is the last hurrah of the old archetype of the British manager in the increasingly global roulette wheel that football has become. 

He is a final link to an era where the likes of Jock Stein, Bob Paisley, and indeed his predecessor, Matt Busby, joined their fates with the club they managed.

Today managers are liable to be called employees by the new breed of owners.

But fear not, I personally am willing to bet we'll see Ferguson once again on our screens going purple, pointing at his watch, chewing his gum even after he leaves Old Trafford.

Either in a Great Britain Olympics 2012 tracksuit, or would you believe, on the Scotland bench again.

Livingston chairman Angelo Massone has finally came out and told the truth for once in the ongoing financial wrangle at the Almondvale club. Despite stating for months that everything was rosy at the club, and that they were in discussions to purchase the stadium from the council, Massone has now warned fans that the club could face administration as early as next week.

The Italian made the claim at a stormy open meeting on Thursday night attended by around 200 fans, who were looking for reassurances on the future of the cash-strapped club, but instead Massone finally came clean and told them that to survive the club must sell around 300 season tickets or face administration next week.

Massone, is battling to find cash to keep the club afloat, made an urgent plea for support from fans and the local business community to help now or risk losing the club altogether. However, there is growing resentment at the way the club is run. Wages are regularly paid late, angry creditors are chasing money and the controversy culminated in the suspension of boss Paul Hegarty and No.2 Graeme Robertson.

Unpaid Season-ticket sales for the 2009-10 campaign have been slow and for those who have purchased books it is believed a staged payment facility has been removed as the club needs the money now. The Livi For Life Supporters Trust, who have campaigned for a community-based rescue plan in the event of administration, were planning to meet with Massone late yesterday to seek a way out of the troubles.

Massone said, “We are working to resolve the problems of the club.”

Livi’s Italian consortium are battling massive debts and sold Dave Mackay and Murray Davidson to St. Johnstone last week for only £45,000 just to ease their plight. A bill of around £280,000 is thought to be outstanding to West Lothian Council for unpaid rent, while a host of other creditors still await payment.

The SFL and SFA are investigating the suspensions of Hegarty and Robertson, who supported players in the row over wage delays. Players are due to be paid next week while backroom staff are still waiting for April wages.

The club’s only saleable asset appears to be Scotland B striker Leigh Griffiths. However, a six-figure bid for the teenager from Dundee has been rejected.

LiviforLife Trust Statement 22nd May 2009

Following the Open Meeting held at the invitation of Livingston Football Club on 21st May we would like to issue the following statement –

Whilst the LFL Trust remains extremely concerned over the stewardship of Livingston Football Club and the critical financial position as confirmed by Mr. Massone at the meeting, the Trust realises the current state of affairs in the relationship between Club and Trust cannot be allowed to continue. To that end the Trust have agreed, in principal, to meet with the owners of Livingston FC and their representatives, to seek common ground on the way forward for the Club.

We fully accept that the support is divided on the best way forward for the Club and to that end we wish to assist, wherever possible, to repair some of the damage. However, we cannot and will not condone some of the practices being applied in the current running of the Club and will seek assurances from the owners that these practices in relation to salaries and creditors are addressed before any positive steps forward can be taken.

The name of Livingston Football Club is currently at an all time low within the football world and this is something none of us can be proud of. We accept that all parties have a role to play in redressing this. However, the onus must be on the current owners to be honest and open in their dealings with supporters, suppliers, sponsors and the football authorities if we are to have a Club to support in the future.

Scotland’s B Squad put in a great performance to defeat Northern Ireland at a drenched Broadwood stadium.

Goals from Andy Webster, debutant George Boyd, and Leigh Griffiths were enough to secure victory for George Burley and also giving him some tough decisions for future team selections.

The game was played in atrocious conditions, but that didn’t stop both teams attempting to play passing football, especially in the first 45 minutes, before a half time downpour wreaked havoc on the Broadwood pitch.

Motherwell’s Stephen Hughes and Falkirk’s Scott Arfield put in good performances in the middle of the park and Andy Webster showed the type of form that resulted him being an established international player a few years ago, while at Hearts.

Webster opened the scoring early in the second half after he slotted home the rebound when his initial header was saved by Tuffey in the Northern Irish goal.

There were chances for Northern Ireland at the other end but former Celtic goalie David Marshall dealt with the threat. The attacking flair of debutant George Boyd and latterly Griffiths caught the eye. Boyd was keen to drift past players at every opportunity and showed some of the touches that had earned him the nickname "the white Pele." He rounded off a great performance with a fine strike on 76 minutes.

The introduction of Griffiths added pace to the attack and he was rewarded with a goal in the closing stages. Griffiths is definitely a star of the future.

It was a fine performance and result, with some good football on show for the 2000 or so fans who braved the weather to watch an entertaining game.

Hopefully the first team can be buoyed by this victory and secure victories in the World Cup qualifiers, that will see us reach the play offs for South Africa 2010. It will be a tough task, but with the future seemingly bright, hope and faith will always be part of the Tartan Army psyche.