I remember just a couple of seasons ago when the spine of the Scottish national team was made up of Hearts players. For the first time in a long time we were not watching players from Celtic and Rangers teaming up with some Englishmen that we had adopted because their great granny had a Scottish gardener. We are of course back to that kind of set up now with just a few SPL players outside the Old Firm being allowed to join the party.

 

Hearts had the pride of having Craig Gordon, Stephen Pressley, Andy Webster and Paul Hartley playing a major role for the national team. However they were the heart of the Scottish national team (oh dear that’s cheesy). But true.

 

Nowadays it is filled with substandard Old Firm player such as Mr consistently inconsistent, Stephen Whittaker. Players such the aforementioned are only in the team because they play for one of the Glasgow teams. This will be proved that the Scottish team loses all its credibility when Kirk Broadfoot gets in the squad. (No hard feeling Kirk but you aren’t good enough for the national team)

 

I honestly don’t know why we put up with this because these players let us down on so many occasions. Take George Burley’s debut against Croatia. A host of Rangers players were withdrawn from the squad with injuries however they were somehow all magically fit for a game a few days later against Celtic. They obviously put club before country and I am sick to death of players picking up these injuries that keep them out of an international friendly. But this is not what I am here to discuss so for now rant over.

 

 

What I hope to see from Fridays encounter with the Czech Republic is to see some of the younger uncapped players getting their opportunity. Obviously my main concern is that Christophe Berra who has now made the last two squads is not overlooked again. Let’s look at the facts Davie Weir is not going to play on forever, he is nearly forty and a game like this is pointless for him to play him. Give the Hearts captain the start and let’s see how he copes against a higher quality of opposition. He is young but has also learned a lot by playing for Hearts. He has had to take on more responsibility since the sale of Stephen Pressley and Craig Gordon. He has stood up to these challenges with dominant performances that have obviously made the Scotland manager sit up and take notice in the young centre back.

 

Burley can play a more experienced player beside him such as Stephen MacManus but don’t waste these chances to test Christophe. He has the making of a future Scotland captain if he is given a run in the team.

 

We do have a chance to make it to the World Cup as long as we introduce our uncapped players at the right time like tonight, not in Amsterdam. They can learn now while there is still time what you need to be an international player.

 

Plus I want to say that Hearts have got someone in the national squad, something that hasn’t happened for a while. I would say who I think should be in the team but because of all the call offs this would be impossible. During the time that I have been writing this post their have no doubt been a few more call offs.