George Boyd & Scotland

[Spijed]

I know he's not the greatest player to ever grace the Premier league, or us for that matter, but why hasn't he been selected for Scotland in recent times?

It's not as though they are awash with talent and surely he's as good as many of their players.

[Sidney1st]

You're talking about a Scotland manager who didn't want to pick Arfield until it was too late to do so and ignores Rhodes a lot of the time.

[evensteadiereddie]

I can understand the Rhodes' omission - he's no better nor worse than Fatboy Martin - but Arfield and Boyd would have been useful.

[Sidney1st]

Rhodes has been prolific though in the championship, averaging 20 goals a season when played.
Hard to ignore that form.

[No Ney Never]

Strachan is a complete tool and a very poor football manager.

[evensteadiereddie]

Rhodes has been prolific though in the championship, averaging 20 goals a season when played.
Hard to ignore that form.

In the Championship.

[HelloHiGoodbye]

In the Championship.

Where most of Scotland's players play...

[Sidney1st]

Yes the championship, but he's still banged them in despite being in a very poor Rovers side.

[evensteadiereddie]

Exactly - a second rate outfit but reckon they can afford to turn down Arfield and Boyd.

[evensteadiereddie]

Yes the championship, but he's still banged them in despite being in a very poor Rovers side.

Banging 'em in for fun this season.............

[Sidney1st]

New club, didn't sign until January and he hadn't played for half a season really at Boro.
Also from what I've read Weds midfield has been chopped and changed a lot.
Next season you'll see a better Rhodes.

Personally I think Boro would've been better off playing him and signing better midfielders/wingers instead of Negredo.

[HelloHiGoodbye]

New club, didn't sign until January and he hadn't played for half a season really at Boro.
Also from what I've read Weds midfield has been chopped and changed a lot.
Next season you'll see a better Rhodes.

Personally I think Boro would've been better off playing him and signing better midfielders/wingers instead of Negredo.

Yep - if you're gunna buy Rhodes then you need to play him with wingers and hard workers around him. Play like that then I reckon he'd have scored and they'd be higher and Karanka would still be in a job but then again - Karanka didn't want Rhodes. Steve Gibson did.

He should walk into that Scotland team, the calibre of play they've got. So should Boyd and Arfield. Well - I say walk. They never walk anywhere.

[Diesel]

They could have had Boyd on one side and Arfield on the other of their midfield, had they showed relevant respect....I wonder where that could get you?

[Right_winger]

Strachan loves his (ex) Celtic players. Shame for him that they will cost him his job. Scotland are turning into a similar side to what Wales and N Ireland were 5-10 years ago.

[HuncoatClaret]

When England played Scotland in November, Kyle Walker was the MOM and got a lot of crosses in and scored. If Boyd had played wide left that night, he'd have doubled up on walker and helped to try to keep him quiet. Definitely Scotland's loss.

[boatshed bill]

They could have had Boyd on one side and Arfield on the other of their midfield, had they showed relevant respect....I wonder where that could get you?

They would have tracked back really well aND HELPED THE FULLBACKS OUT LOTS.

[KRBFC]

Exactly - a second rate outfit but reckon they can afford to turn down Arfield and Boyd.

they can, neither are better than Snodgrass.

[evensteadiereddie]

Depends on the role.

[jlup1980]

Scotland aren't actually that bad out wide. Snodgrass, Oliver Burke, Ryan Fraser and Matt Ritchie are all in the latest squad. And behind these guys you have Matt Phillips from West Brom. The ones that surprise me are Barry Bannan and Iketchi Anya who are also in the current squad. I've never understood how these two get in the squad ahead of Arfield or Boyd. Which two have played at a consistently higher level for the past 3, 4, 5 years?!

[EarbyClaret]

For a technically limited team, like the current Scotland set-up, who are not going to see a lot of the ball against higher quality opposition then you would have thought both Arfield and Boyd could have done a very effective job.

Similarly their work rate could help demoralise the poorer teams they come up against. Snodgrass is a more gifted player but it's difficult to maximise his ability when there isn't a decent 'framework' around him.

Speaking from personal experience, none of the Scottish people I know rate Strachan as national manager, that includes Celtic fans.

[CleggHall]

One man's meat (SD) is another man's (GS) poison!

[Guich]

He's too good and I wouldn't want him to get injured playing at that level

[IanMcL]

Scotland played ok and won. Should have won more easily.

Boyd and arfield would ensure away points. Anya is always brought on ahead of the better wingers, so I too scratch my head. Old school manager.

[Guich]

Agreed Ian I think they would. I was a little grumpy as I had a few quid on a draw

[TVC15]

Strachan is a complete weirdo of a bloke - absolutely massive chip on his shoulder.

He has his own ideas about football and anyone (like a journalist) who has the temerity to ask him to explain a performance or a decision he has regularly treated them like dog sh-ite on his shoe.

The reason he does not pick Boyd or Arfield will I am sure be down to his stubbornness to change his mind - he sees it as a weakness. That Scotland team is absolute sh-ite and you cannot say that there has been 22 better scottish players than Boyd and Arfield during Strachan`s time as manager.

I do not understand how he has kept his job as manager - the results in last 12 or 18 months have been shocking. Yes Scotland is a lot smaller than England but all the other home nations have done much better than Scotland recently. Look at Northern Ireland and their squad.

They would be better with Rab C Nesbitt as manager and Jamesy up front (for anyone who ever saw the episode when he played football on a holiday in Spain!!)

[Dodobdobodobo]

Can't believe anyone who would think Boyd is an international even for a c••• outfit like Scotland!

[Quickenthetempo]

Boyd and arfield would ensure away points.

This is probably the most bizarre thing I have read on this messageboard.

[jrgbfc]

Probably because neither of them are anywhere near good enough to play international football.

[claretdom]

Probably because neither of them are anywhere near good enough to play international football.

Neither are Scotland but they still get a game

[Spijed]

Probably because neither of them are anywhere near good enough to play international football.

Is Sam Vokes?

[TVC15]

What does that even mean ?

I could get in the Gibraltar team - that`s international football.

Point was that during Strachan`s tenure as manager there has not been 22 better scottish players than Boyd and Arfield every time he has chosen a squad. For many games either one of them were good enough for the first eleven.

But he prefers to pick someone who is playing week in week out against the likes of Ross County - and its any wonder they cannot beat the likes of Canada.

[IanMcL]

This is probably the most bizarre thing I have read on this messageboard.

Not bizarre at all. They do full defensive duties unlike some others and from time to time, Scotland would benefit from that - as do Burnley.

[Quickenthetempo]

Not bizarre at all. They do full defensive duties unlike some others and from time to time, Scotland would benefit from that - as do Burnley.

You have seen Burnley's away record haven't you?

[JohnDearyMe]

Scotland aren't actually that bad out wide. Snodgrass, Oliver Burke, Ryan Fraser and Matt Ritchie are all in the latest squad. And behind these guys you have Matt Phillips from West Brom. The ones that surprise me are Barry Bannan and Iketchi Anya who are also in the current squad. I've never understood how these two get in the squad ahead of Arfield or Boyd. Which two have played at a consistently higher level for the past 3, 4, 5 years?!

Very good points. They are fairly well served in midfield but still surprising they've not been called upon