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| Do you want Barry Ferguson to return to playing for Scotland |
| Yes |
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17% |
[ 9 ] |
| No |
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82% |
[ 43 ] |
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| Total Votes : 52 |
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GhostZapper
Joined: 26 Aug 2009
Posts: 1213
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 Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 12:47 am Post subject: Barry Ferguson |
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Fantastic article from the herald. Would really like him to come back and give it one more go. Surely he deserves to be remembered for Scotland as more than just boozegate!
Whats everyone elses thoughts? Do you want him back or not?
| Quote: |
He regrets his international career has not taken him to a major finals, but Barry Ferguson must now decide whether to prolong it
6 Jun 2010
I’ve never been one for lingering over regrets. Unquestionably, there are certain things that I would change in my life if I could, but overall I reckon I’ve done not too bad at the age of 32 looking back on my career and when I see the family I have around me.
That said, never having played at a major tournament is something that I do mull over on occasion, more often than not when another event is about to start and you see the excitement generated for the countries involved, the players and the supporters.
I am sure it must be a wonderful
experience to participate in a World Cup. I was 20 when Scotland last made it, back in 1998 in France, and I don’t think anyone envisaged we would
be sitting here 12 years on from that having never been back at either a World Cup or a European Championship.
Like most people my age, I grew up glued to the TV watching
Scotland in World Cups and European Championships. It was essentially a given we would be there. Unfortunately, those times have now long gone.
On three occasions I came close to securing a place. In the 1999 play-off, Scotland lost to England 2-1 on
aggregate and failed to reach the
European Championship.
I was a young player at the time, just starting out at Rangers. The fact I earned rave reviews for my performance in the return match in London, which we won 1-0, meant little as I was crestfallen at having just fallen short.
Four years later it was more a feeling of shock. We travelled to Amsterdam dreaming of a place at Euro 2004 having triumphed 1-0 in the first leg over
Holland in Glasgow. Everyone knows the rest. We were blown off the park in the return and the dream died again.
Those two play-off defeats were extremely difficult to accept. However, three years ago, when we could almost touch a berth at Euro 2008 – only for Italy to rip it away – ranks as the worst. We had punched seriously above our weight in a nightmare section and negotiated qualifiers against the likes of France and Ukraine to create a winner-takes-all match against the
Italians at home.
I was devastated after that match. Having been down 1-0 early on to Luca Toni’s goal, I managed to equalise. With the game poised at 1-1, the wave of excitement around Hampden was amazing. One goal and we would have been there. In typical Scottish fashion, as
we pushed on, we were caught out due
to a scandalous refereeing decision
and lost 2-1.
Dumped again. It was as low as I’ve felt in an international jersey. The very tone of my disappointment here
naturally raises the question of whether I will have one more chance to achieve the goal that I’ve missed out on.
Scotland, in a few months’ time, will embark on the Euro 2012 qualification campaign under Craig Levein.
There have been suggestions in the past few weeks that I had been spending a lot of time thinking over my position in terms of a return to the international squad, and that I had more or less decided that I would.
Nothing could be further from the truth. I have not spoken with the manager since he came down to Birmingham in March and we had a very good conversation.
The position was made clear then and it hasn’t changed at all. I have not given it any thought, and the manager knows exactly where I am coming from.
In our discussions, I told him that this was an issue I had felt I would never have to deal with again after what happened with my expulsion from the squad under George Burley and the lifetime ban I received.
I told Craig that my priority was seeing out the season with total commitment to my club. I would then go away on holiday with my family and return for pre-season at the start of
July. It was agreed that we would discuss things again before the start of the
new campaign, and that remains
the case.
I have an awful lot to consider and my family will always come first. Craig, who I have to once again state is a man I have the utmost respect for, has no issue with that. I am aware a decision will have to be made. When that time comes, I’ll make it.
I will be on holiday with my family when the tournament in South Africa kicks off. I am not a great watcher of matches when I’m not playing. Over the summer, normally I prefer to switch off completely. But I will take in some of the games and pay particular
attention to England, given that I live down there now for part of my working week. Also, a guy I became very friendly with last season when he was on loan at Birmingham, Joe Hart, is in the squad and I hope that he gets a game ahead of the other two goalkeepers at Fabio Capello’s disposal, David James and Robert Green.
Joe was terrific for us last season, but has now gone back to Manchester City. He is part of a squad that will once again carry massive expectation.
It gives you a totally different
perspective of the pressure the England team will come under when you are down south playing.
Of course, in Scotland we tend to poke fun at England for always saying that this will be their time to emulate 1966 – but at least they are there to have a go.
But they do whip up this sense of expectation. It started a few weeks before the end of the season and by
the time the Premier League campaign had ended it was full-blown. Can
this be their year? I happen to think that they have as good a chance as ever before in terms of winning the World Cup.
My reasoning for that, apart from having played against the vast majority
of their squad over the past season and witnessed first-hand the quality they possess, is that many of this England group are likely to be viewing it as their last opportunity to win the World Cup. Once into your early 30s – as quite a few of them are – it’s hard to say with certainty that you will be able to go again in four years’ time.
That can be a huge motivation. I also don’t think they have anything to fear, albeit the perennial contenders such as Brazil, Argentina, Spain and Germany will all feel confident of securing the ultimate prize.
It will be very interesting to see how this tournament pans out. In the four years since Germany, the Champions League club tournament has moved on to another level. That has sparked an interesting debate as to whether the World Cup remains the biggest show in town.
I attended the Real Madrid v Bayer Leverkusen Champions League final at Hampden in 2002 and it was a fantastic event. However, the recent final between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich in Madrid proves where the Champions League is now.
The tournament runs for nine months and the best players in the game are all involved. From watching this year’s final and talking to people who were there, it’s certainly massive.
Bigger than the World Cup? That remains to be seen. I wouldn’t say there is much in it. Like everyone else, I hope to be entertained over the next few weeks in the same way as the
Champions League captivates.
Watching is as good as it gets for me again.
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Goldmember
Joined: 19 Mar 2010
Posts: 465
Location: Studio 69
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 1:05 am Post subject: |
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| Couldn't give a gnats chuff if he never played for Scotland again. |
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GhostZapper
Joined: 26 Aug 2009
Posts: 1213
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 3:39 am Post subject: |
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| as a footballer tho - very talented player |
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wellyboot
Joined: 14 Jul 2008
Posts: 2566
Location: Aberdeenshire
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 8:37 am Post subject: |
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| talented in passing the ball sideways and backwards |
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GhostZapper
Joined: 26 Aug 2009
Posts: 1213
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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not sure i agree with that! Ferguson had more stand out games in the last few years for Scotland than Fletcher did!
I firmly believe that he is still on of our stronger midfielders. |
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Vinnie
Joined: 12 Jul 2008
Posts: 8226
Location: None Of Your Business
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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| This Ferguson debacle will I play for Scotland again or not has been ongoing for months.If he needs to think about whether he wants to play for us or not,for me he can get to.Lets move on |
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GhostZapper
Joined: 26 Aug 2009
Posts: 1213
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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| he has had a discussion with Craig Levein, who has agreed to meet Ferguson at the end of July for an answer, so its a non story until Fergie sits down with Levein and makes that decision |
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Geordie_Munro
Joined: 12 Jul 2008
Posts: 905
Location: Boise, ID.
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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No way jose. When you look up 'female genitalia' in the dictionary, you get a picture of Barry Ferguson. 
Anyway, he is never fit to play for his country unless it is a big game he wants to play in. We have MUCH better options in midfield than a has been who can only play a back pass now and again (when he can be bothered).
_________________
No no no no ma wee laddie. |
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Raith Fan
Joined: 01 Jan 2009
Posts: 780
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Geordie_Munro wrote: | | We have MUCH better options in midfield |
Who? Fletcher is top class but rarely so for Scotland. Brown gives you high energy and drive but that's not enough. Dorrans and Adam have been highly praised but lack experience at the top level. Same with Kevin Thomson. Barry Robson is banging on a bit, Paul Hartley is already too old.
So who is better than Ferguson? It still astounds me that people write him off as someone who "only passes the ball backwards". If you truly believe that I'd suggest you don't know all that much about football.
I agree however you could call his commitment into question, but when he's actually played I don't think you could accuse him of anything like that. Based on form alone he's more than good enough IMO. |
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Vinnie
Joined: 12 Jul 2008
Posts: 8226
Location: None Of Your Business
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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It still astounds me that people write him off as someone who "only passes the ball backwards". If you truly believe that I'd suggest you don't know all that much about football.
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So people don`t know all that much about football because you don`t agree with their opinion?  |
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I. Latto
Joined: 14 Mar 2009
Posts: 2524
Location: Dalry, Edinburgh
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 7:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Ferguson is one of Scotland's best passers of the ball. Him and Fletcher in the middle of the park would create, create, create. |
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Geordie_Munro
Joined: 12 Jul 2008
Posts: 905
Location: Boise, ID.
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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| I. Latto wrote: | | Ferguson is one of Scotland's best passers of the ball. Him and Fletcher in the middle of the park would create, create, create. |
.....problems, problems, problems.
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No no no no ma wee laddie. |
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raith12
Joined: 26 Jul 2009
Posts: 878
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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| I dont think its good idea barry ferguson coming back into scotland team levein asked him back a few times he still says he thinking about it. Its time to move on theres some more players geting chance now for scotland team dorrans connway andrew driver will be in scotland squad soon. |
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yabass
Joined: 16 Jul 2008
Posts: 212
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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Great player, folk who think he only passes the ball backwards obviously dinnae pay enough attention.
However, as Vinnie said, the fact that its taken him this long to make up his mind is insulting, and for that reason i'd be inclined to answer 'no'. Its obvious his hearts not in it 100%. You can have all the ability in the world, but if you've got no heart, you wont go very far. |
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GhostZapper
Joined: 26 Aug 2009
Posts: 1213
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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i dont understand this "taken so long to make up his mind" idea.
He spoke with Levein in March - Levein said they would meet in July and discuss it again. Ferguson therefore does not need to say anything until he meets with Levein
I spent 3 and a half grand last year going to the 4 Scotland away games and we were garbage in 3 out the 4 of them!
A Barry Ferguson in that Norway game, or even down in Cardiff, would have offered at least some resistance, some fight, some determination, that Fletcher, Brown, Fox, Caldwell, and the rest of that shower showed. Not a pair of balls to be found between the 16 man squad!!!!! The performances in Cardiff and Oslo were 2 of the worst ive been to as a Scotland supporter! Im not saying Barry Ferguson is the answer to all our problems, but i seriously do believe he is still a talented player.
Anyway - for those that say he only plays a ball back, did any of you watch his performances for Birmingham last season?
Maybe Ferguson in his current role, with Fletcher in the form he's in, and we'd have the makings of a fantastic midfield! |
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