I see Mr Boyd is having his say on why Shinnie and McLean are in the Scotland squad!!!  Something about trying to sell tickets with it being at Pittodrie and that both aren't good enough to even lace Scott Brown, Stuart Armstrong or Callum McGregor's boots.  This kind of arrogance really should be rid from life in general not just football. 

But naebdy takes Kris "who-ate-all-the-pies" Boyd's opinions seriously anyway

You're mistaking arrogance for opinion. He backs it up with the fact that Shinnie was completely bossed by Brown in our last meeting, and McLean by either of Armstrong or MacGregor. It's fair game I'd say.

 

He's entirely correct, also. That said, Shinnie has been excellent for a few years now and worthy of inclusion. There is also nothing particularly insidious about playing local players in a friendly match with a new manager. I don't see the issue, and I don't believe it will make Scotland a "laughing stock" as he suggests. Boyd was pish for Scotland, and wasn't nearly the standard we required (especially later in his career), so it's maybe slightly hypocritical if anything. He completely lacks in an intelligent and informed suggestion as to how to move Scottish football forward and improve the national team. In my opinion - and with good reason - that has to start in the country of origin. If that is helped by playing SPFL players, then play them. It's a shame we couldn't have seen him challenged in a two-way conversation where he could develop his argument slightly. These "interviews" where a player/manager/ex-player etc. is prompted to spew-forth utter shite (or not) without reply are pathetic. It's like the journalist is saying "I don't understand fitba, you tell me what I'm supposed to think". I don't think it's specific to fitba, but it's certainly prevalent.

Scott Brown is a far superior footballer to anything we have had at AFC this century.

 

That’s just a no contest situation. Unfortunately.

 

The pathos in attempting to compare Shinnie to Brown is this;

 

Shinnie has never been played consistently in his natural position.

 

He’s the best footballer at AFC by a street longer than Great Western Road, let alone Union Street.

 

Unfortunately he’s been deployed mostly in a position to hide McInnes’s inadequacies.

We all called it way before the pie muncher even spoke a word to his ghost writer. It was a cynical move by those who control our game. That's not to say they didn't deserve it before but it's not really been justified this time round. Or at least not for the likely reasons.

Shinnie seems to be unlucky in that as good a player as he is, he is in an era where he may struggle to get caps.  I like him best when he's at left back but the queue for that position is mounting.

 

Have to say though there have been a few cases where it looked like someone would be a shoe-in for Scotland for years then for one reason or another, injuries, loss of form etc they fell out of the picture.  It's easy to think Tierney and Robertson have the left back slot nailed down for the next decade but it may not necessarily be the case.

 

Much though I hate to "agree" with Boyd, I don't think Shinnie is an international class central midfielder.  Time will tell though and I hope to be proved wrong.

 

Christie must be given a chance in my view.  His brain seems to see things 10 minutes before anyone else in the Dons team and he is pure class.  One of the best players to pull on a Dons shirt in the last 25 years.  Hope he gets a chance on Thursday and plays a blinder.

 

Is McLean good enough to become a regular in the Scotland team - not so sure.

 

 

 

 

Not sure?

 

 

McLean is lucky to get a game at club level never mind international level.

 

Shinnie's in the wrong era, we don't need any more left backs.

 

 

When you look back at some Dons players who only got a few caps it's incredible.

 

But if there's a Hun fullback as a possibility then the likes of Stuart Kennedy wasn't getting a game.

 

Joe Harper was top scorer in Europe at one point but wasn't getting a look in.

 

 

 

It has to be said though that the Scotland team and it's organisation has always been a shambles.

 

 

 

Much though I hate to "agree" with Boyd, I don't think Shinnie is an international class central midfielder.  Time will tell though and I hope to be proved wrong.

 

Christie must be given a chance in my view.  His brain seems to see things 10 minutes before anyone else in the Dons team and he is pure class.  One of the best players to pull on a Dons shirt in the last 25 years.  Hope he gets a chance on Thursday and plays a blinder.

 

Is McLean good enough to become a regular in the Scotland team - not so sure.

 

Agree re Shinnie in Midfield. Good to Very good but not international class. He is an excellent LB but as you say, very strong competition for that position right now.

 

Agree Christie needs to be given a chance. Very Good to Excellent midfield player although prone to the odd going absent.

 

No way McLean.

The only other point to make though is:

 

Barry fucking Bannan

 

The point being is that "International Class" is meaningless. You just have to be better than the shite that gets in the team. Shinnie is better than Bannan, and as is McLean on his day. Christie definitely so.

 

Chris fucking Martin

 

He's a horses arse.

 

Steven Fletcher

 

etc.

 

I still think Boyd is correct, however he does gloss over the fact that there is a lot of dross being picked simply because they play for championship side X. To promote the game in this country by offering a clear path from the SPFL to the Scotland squad is a valuable exercise if it is only at the expense of second rate English English Championship players. From that perspective, I see no issue with the inclusion of Dandies/Hibs players, however that strategy needs to be explicit and form part of a bigger set of ideas. As it stands, Boyd's tokenism accusation is correct.

It would be a right bitter bastard who begrudged SHinnie a Scotland cap and funnily enough it is usually bitter ex huns who spew out this shyte. Boyd this week in the papers and I heard Alex Rae say the same thing on Off The Ball, 2 weeks ago.  The guy has been a very consistent SPL player for a number of seasons now and gives us and also gave his former club Caley, a drive and determination which deserves a chance at international level in my opinion.

 

I believe he will surprise a few if given a chance, maybe even a few bitter ex huns.

 

 

 

I see Mr Shinnie is (55/1) First Goal with Paddy Power!!!

I don't really disagree as none of our players this year have been high performers week in week out. McLean isn't good enough although Shinnie and Christie deserve it. Shinnie has been nothing special this year and is back to being bounced between defense and midfield which hurts his form but selection is long overdue. Last year I thought he was excellent in midfield and should have been given a chance. Christie is also inconsistent but he brings much needed flair that I'd like to see him given a chance. The national team badly needs that.

 

I think it's key to the interest of the national team that we have players from Aberdeen, Hibs, Rangers etc in the squad. Interest in the national team is definitely declining and while mainly due to performance and results, the endless selection of average championship players has hurt interest. I don't think it drastically hurts Scotland performancewise to select John McGinn over Barry Bannan, Armstrong over Morrison, McGregor over McArthur. I'd even say Shinnie over Anya, but I think it definitely increases interest.

Being reported this morning that McLean and Christie will start tonight, as will the snake.

Being reported this morning that McLean and Christie will start tonight, as will the snake.

 

Well, that should get the crowd going. Anyone bringing a pigs head?

Being reported this morning that McLean and Christie will start tonight, as will the snake.

 

That will be Donsdaft down at the ticket office getting a ticket for the game now, on the back of your McLean announcement.   

To be fair, I think even donsdaft would likely be more offended by the appearance of Jack than McLean.

Wow, both Jack and McLean start ahead of Shinnie. I take it he, Shinnie, must have a Wife/Partner of Oriental persuasion, if that two are in the team ahead of him.

 

No wonder I find it hard to feel any real joy watching Scotland play

Shocking starting 11, no way Jack or McLean should be there. No right back and one central defender?? I assume Jack is right back and Tierney in the middle?

Scotland look fresh and sharp. Crisp footwork by many and bright start from Christie. McGregor is class.

 

The game is passing McLean by, predictably and Berra is a fucking liability. Forrest doesn’t convince me.

 

Holland are shit so far.

Scotland look fresh and sharp. Crisp footwork by many and bright start from Christie. McGregor is class.

 

The game is passing McLean by, predictably and Berra is a fucking liability. Forrest doesn’t convince me.

 

Holland are shit so far.

 

Couldn't really disagree with anything you've said there Rocket.

And just as interest resumes, bang we go one down

How unfortunate that our two best young footballers were culpable for their goal.

 

Shocking give away by C McG but then Tierney was poor anticipating the ball going out behind him.

 

As the replays showed clearly, they were offside, twice but I can’t fathom what goes on in the McLean brain? Why would you stop tracking the goalscorer going back once they were inside the box?

I reckon this will be the first cap of many for Ryan Christie.

 

He was suffering from over-enthusiasm when he overhit three consecutive passes but that turn and cross before they scored should have had a hungry centre forward on the end of it.

 

Ryan Jack very good first half at RB.

 

Sub McLean for Shinnie NOW. 

Dazzler Mackie must be sitting at home wondering why that dude Phillips is getting a game instead of him. It’s crossed my mind too.

 

I detest friendlies.

Note to next Scotland manager, whoever the fuck that might be.

 

Get a tape of this game. Watch it.

 

Then make sure that Berra, Phillips and McLean are never selected for any squads in the future.

 

On cue,Philips misses another...

Christ, did Shinnie not get a game?

 

Yet that useless Hun tosspot McLean plays.

 

No wonder I don't give a fuck about the Scotland team.

 

Weegies rule.