World Cup Draw

[janaage]

Jan, has Scotland benefited from having the young player quote thingy they have in the SPL?

Do you know what I'm not 100% sure.  There's a number of things you have to take into account when talking about Scotland's "recovery".

Firstly is let's not get carried away with our performance.  5 matches into the next qualifiers we'll really knwo if we've turned the corner and are as good as recent results suggest.

Secondly having two Scots in charge of Rangers and Celtic have helped enormously.  That's enabled players like McManus, Kennedy, Scott Brown, Kris Boyd, Hutton, Caldwell and others have that essential European experience.

Thirdly clubs like Hibs, who don't have the money to buy expensive foreigners, should take some of the credit.  In the last few years Hibs have nurtured some excellent players and Scotland are reaping the rewards.

However the young player quota hasn't gone down too well, especially with the Old firm who don't like to pay these fella's on a fair wage to sit in the stands.  

I think it makes the game more of a sport and not just about money, so having wrote this, I'm entirely convinced by it, but I'm willing to let it carry on.

Not sure what Will's view would be on this though.

[janaage]

and simulation.

Indeed. Even the quality of our diving is poor. I'm looking at you Joe Cole

Are you having a laugh, in Gerrard and Owen you have two of the best "simulation experts" in the business.

[axs]

they're not a patch on the likes of Dida.

[janaage]

Dida excluded from previous post.

[axs]

Simeone.

[Colin Todd]

Is it not possible that you had a good generation of youngsters who would have made it sooner or later anyway?   ie gone to "lesser" clubs before proving themselves and being picke up by the likes of the old firm?

Personally I dont see how it harms young english talent at big clubs to go on loan to the championship. Scott sinclair at Chelsea for example probablly wouldnt stand much chance of getting a european game currently but is getting good experience in the championship at 19. Conversley, if there were quotas and he did stand a chance of getting a game instead of Droba for example, Chelsea would be a lot less likley to advance to the later stages for obvious reasons

[RobertT]

I;m not sure the Scottish quote system would have much impact, not a great deal anyway, on clubs.  It's a small number of players in the match day squad as I understand it and Chelsea/Man Utd would be easily able to adapt.  Arsenal would be the most put out to start with.  It's just one idea though, and the response of how will it impact Chelsea's chance in Europe goes to show how we generally think.  If we really want a good England team then why should anyone bar Chelsea fans give a shit about their European chances?  As it is, our best performance as clubs in Europe came in a period where very few non British players played in our league.

I think there is a real issue with the level of talent coming through at the moment, it seems less and less based on technique and more and more on whether they are quick or not.  There are very few performances of quality in the Prem league that don't come from a select bunch of foreign imports.  ON the back of that we relax and pat ourselves on the back for having "the best league in the world".  That's a statement I'd never support anyway, Spain's league is a class above, Italy is more difficult etc.  The one thing it was in the past was competitive, thus ensuring we made up for a lack of talent with spirit and ability to not be beaten.  I see this as gradually declining.

[Matchworn Shirts]

The rankings are a joke anyway, if you get us in the group it will be interesting

[Stef Troll]

The rankings are a joke anyway, if you get us in the group it will be interesting

Germany would win that group, with England vying for 2nd position along with the 3rd pot team.  This is simply because the Germans are good at going to places lie Macedonia, Serbia, etc and getting 3 points on a regular basis.  England always seem to struggle in such places, and rely mainly on their amazing home form to pull them through.

Greece, Portugal and the Czechs would probably be the easiest top ranked side to play against

[donkey]

Greece, Portugal and the Czechs would probably be the easiest top ranked side to play against

That'll be the same Czechs that finished above Germany...underestimate the Czechs at your peril...