1320lichtie Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Hope everyone has recovered from the weekend but just a thought I had today whilst lying on my settee gubbed from Germany..... 22 years old, 15 caps, captain of Blackburn, could he set a record for number of caps? I think for being 22 he really is a great centre half and will improve with age and we all know Centre halfs last a long time in the game. Nobody really coming through there either. Future captain and a 100 caps for the boy or? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErsatzThistle Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 I can see where your coming from. The lad has improved from his nervy first displays. Some people are too harsh on him when we lose a goal. His positioning and tackling have improved in the last few games plus as others have said plenty of times before, Russell Martin is a good partner for him to play alongside. Defenders, centre backs in particular get better as they get older. I'm confident we'll see this with Grant Hanley. Colin Hendry didn't make his Scotland debut until he was about 27 and still got 51 caps. Funny that he was Blackburn captain too ! Hanley could well equal that or better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
er yir macaroon Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Hanley has done very well. He'll keep getting better. I'm surprise more people aren't upset at Cameron Burgess choosing Australia because we're a bit thin on the ground in this position. I do think Danny Wilson will get a fair few caps by the end of his career. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErsatzThistle Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 er yir macaroon I was wondering what you meant about Burgess then I just went on google and feckin read this http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/football/australia-wins-battle-with-scotland-for-promising-football-star-cameron-burgess/story-fnii0fc4-1227050386264 Another bloody timewaster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bannannan Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Had been doing well until Sunday.Looked unsure and slow.Always liked him but he isn't on form.In the game before for Blackburn he was very poor as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
girvanTA Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Why are so many players turning their back on playing for scotland? Feruz, burgess, mccarthy and mcgeady? Im sure theres a wee bit of a debate with the young lad davey from chelsea aswell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
er yir macaroon Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 A string of good results might be enough to whip up some enthusiasm - and giving Australia and Ireland a right good hiding ought to be top of our agenda. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toepoke Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Why are so many players turning their back on playing for scotland? Feruz, burgess, mccarthy and mcgeady? Im sure theres a wee bit of a debate with the young lad davey from chelsea aswell In Feruz case he seems to have a major attitude problem, not sure how he'll get on in the game at all. Burgess grew up in Australia so maybe feels more affinity to the place, can't fault him for that. McGeady and McCarthy slightly more complicated reasons there, and it's been done to death. Disappointing but we move on.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marky Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 (edited) Why are so many players turning their back on playing for scotland? Feruz, burgess, mccarthy and mcgeady? Im sure theres a wee bit of a debate with the young lad davey from chelsea aswell Not necessarily relating to the specific players you mention here (apart from Burgess), but generally I think the answer to your question is simple. Stop selecting players who aren't Scottish at youth level and they'll stop deserting us when their real country comes calling. Edited September 10, 2014 by Marky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runningtings Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Agreed Marky. Back OT, I like Hanley a lot. He is already pretty steady but will improve over time, though we could really do with a footballing CB beside him. Souttar in a couple of years maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
er yir macaroon Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Not necessarily relating to the specific players you mention here (apart from Burgess), but generally I think the answer to your question is simple. Stop selecting players who aren't Scottish at youth level and they'll stop deserting us when their real country comes calling. Burgess left Aberdeen aged 11, so has spent more team here than there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotsgary1 Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 In Feruz case he seems to have a major attitude problem, not sure how he'll get on in the game at all. Burgess grew up in Australia so maybe feels more affinity to the place, can't fault him for that. McGeady and McCarthy slightly more complicated reasons there, and it's been done to death. Disappointing but we move on.... None of them a major loss imo. As for Hanley needs to more confident in the air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairbairn Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 In all honesty I don't think so. I think this lad is a stop gap and as soon as a genuinely good centre half emerges I'd expect him to take Hanley's place. Martin is our best centre half at the moment and I don't see any difference between Hanley and the likes of Reynolds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scot scotland scottish Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Still got a lot of improving to do if you ask me. Only too happy to concede though that he's one of the best we've got in that position - which tells you a lot about how we fare at centre half! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albagubrath Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 I don't think either Hanley or Martin are good enough but probably the best we 'be got at the moment. Anyone know how john souttar is progressing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tartan blood Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 (edited) I don't think either Hanley or Martin are good enough but probably the best we 'be got at the moment. Anyone know how john souttar is progressing?Injured and still only 17/18. As someone else pointed out, CBs need experience to get to the top level. You will rarely see a world class CB breakthrough before they are 20. I've got high hopes for Souttar but I also think Hanley has a great deal of potential, too. Although, I've always felt he was a direct replacement for Caldwell. If he has the impact on Scotland that Caldwell had, minus the occasional errors, then we have a very good centre half on our hands. But, as you said, we would really be hoping for better. Edited September 10, 2014 by Tartan blood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hertsscot Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 shame that QPR got promoted I'd hoped that Donaldson might have got a few more games if they'd stayed in the Championship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robroysboy Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Thought Hanley was at fault for the German second goal. Saying that he is the best we have, plays regular for his club at a decent level. He is also playing in his clubs position centre half unlike martin. Out of Greer, berra , martin, Hanley and Reynolds. Its martin and hanleys jerseys at the moment. Mulgrew can also play centre half if required. So we do have depth but arguably not top top quality in that position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caledonian Craig Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Hanley and Martin have been the defenders that have stopped us leaking goals. Sure they aren't equal to some of the defenders we have had i the past but they are the best we have and doing a far from bad job for us so do not see why we have the complaints. Sure they may have made the odd mistakes but so have far better defenders in the past for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Return of Yermaw Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 I don't think either Hanley or Martin are good enough but probably the best we 'be got at the moment. Anyone know how john souttar is progressing? He got injured pre-season. Also Utd brought in we centre halves ( think that was before he got injured). Think his progress has stalled since the Sumderland bid but maybe someone who goes to the Utd games can give us their perspective......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cove_Sheep Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 I've not seen much of Souttar but he will need huge improvement if he is to ever be an international player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErsatzThistle Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 The last effective partnership we had at the back in my opinion, was McManus and Weir. To all those that don't rate Russell Martin (who has great for Scotland) and a young player like Hanley, would you rather we go back to the days of Gary Caldwell and Christophe Berra in central defence ? Germany would have been out of sight by end of the first half if those two had been playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmcca5 Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 He's got a big head, he's got a big heaaaaaad Grant Hanley he's got a big head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scot scotland scottish Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 I've not seen much of Souttar but he will need huge improvement if he is to ever be an international player. I've seen plenty of him (DUFC fan) and I agree with you 100%. Still young of course so he may go into play for Scotland, but it's a long way off just now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Russell's Lovechild Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Burgess grew up in Australia so maybe feels more affinity to the place, can't fault him for that. He only spent 5 years there! Left at 11 and signed for Fulham at 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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