Not at all up for this Scotland friendly. Not when we've went begging to yet another, useless, English dud who's never set foot in the country before. Scandalous.
Scottish Fitba Thread (Part 22)
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Originally Posted by timboy:
“http://sport.stv.tv/football/interna...and-u19-coach/
The madness of Scottish football.”
“http://sport.stv.tv/football/interna...and-u19-coach/
The madness of Scottish football.”
What a knob Sbragia is. This is U-19 football, it's hardly the World Cup FFS, it's decisions like this that give players like Harper 'food for thought', do you really want to play for a country that picks players based on how much they run about?.
He was born and raised in Spain and despite his declaration for Scotland there's only so many snubs you can take before you become bitter and consider your options.
Originally Posted by timboy:
“http://sport.stv.tv/football/interna...and-u19-coach/
The madness of Scottish football.”
“http://sport.stv.tv/football/interna...and-u19-coach/
The madness of Scottish football.”
Quote:
“"I've gone for a physical side and runners. Hopefully I'm proved right in Austria. It's purely a tactical decision."”
“"I've gone for a physical side and runners. Hopefully I'm proved right in Austria. It's purely a tactical decision."”
Sums up Scottish Football.
Disgraceful comments
Should be sacked for his comments. Absolutely crazy.
No one cares if we win or lose at youth level, just get the players integrated and play a decent style of football.
No one cares if we win or lose at youth level, just get the players integrated and play a decent style of football.
Originally Posted by detroitcity:
“Should be sacked for his comments. Absolutely crazy.
No one cares if we win or lose at youth level, just get the players integrated and play a decent style of football.”
“Should be sacked for his comments. Absolutely crazy.
No one cares if we win or lose at youth level, just get the players integrated and play a decent style of football.”
Any coach at Youth Level who simply thinks its about winning shouldn't be a coach.
Sounds like a good tactical decision. If your team went to play a big game with a passenger that doesn't fit in you'd give the manager and player an absolute hounding. Football is a results based business, like it or not, you lose a lot you get the sack.
Originally Posted by FrankieFixer:
“Sounds like a good tactical decision. If your team went to play a big game with a passenger that doesn't fit in you'd give the manager and player an absolute hounding. Football is a results based business, like it or not, you lose a lot you get the sack.”
“Sounds like a good tactical decision. If your team went to play a big game with a passenger that doesn't fit in you'd give the manager and player an absolute hounding. Football is a results based business, like it or not, you lose a lot you get the sack.”
Football at Youth level is not a results business at all or shouldn't be.
The whole point is to coach players into having technical ability and tactical awareness.
The idea that a youth team full of runners winning games helps Scottish Football and the full international side to progress is laughable.
UEFA European U-19 Championship winners:
2014 Germany
2013 Serbia
2012 Spain
2011 Spain
2010 France
2009 Ukraine
2008 Germany
2007 Spain
2006 Spain
2005 France
Surprise surprise most years the team that wins are those with a footballing culture where technique is vitally important.
Carry on Scotland with runners lol
Tactics come far ahead of letting a Real Madrid Z player float about doing what he wants. Scotland aren't going to start playing like Real Madrid or Spain just because people watch La Liga on Sky and decide to just demand we 'play like that'. We don't have the players to just play highly technical football whenever it suits us.
Scotland went to the final in 2006 of this competition and lost narrowly to Spain with players like Michael McGlinchey and Calum Elliot. Look at any top player and they work hard and run, they don't all need to have this fabled 'technical ability' that just magics wins from nothing.
Scotland went to the final in 2006 of this competition and lost narrowly to Spain with players like Michael McGlinchey and Calum Elliot. Look at any top player and they work hard and run, they don't all need to have this fabled 'technical ability' that just magics wins from nothing.
Originally Posted by FrankieFixer:
“Tactics come far ahead of letting a Real Madrid Z player float about doing what he wants. Scotland aren't going to start playing like Real Madrid or Spain just because people watch La Liga on Sky and decide to just demand we 'play like that'. We don't have the players to just play highly technical football whenever it suits us.
Scotland went to the final in 2006 of this competition and lost narrowly to Spain with players like Michael McGlinchey and Calum Elliot. Look at any top player and they work hard and run, they don't all need to have this fabled 'technical ability' that just magics wins from nothing.”
“Tactics come far ahead of letting a Real Madrid Z player float about doing what he wants. Scotland aren't going to start playing like Real Madrid or Spain just because people watch La Liga on Sky and decide to just demand we 'play like that'. We don't have the players to just play highly technical football whenever it suits us.
Scotland went to the final in 2006 of this competition and lost narrowly to Spain with players like Michael McGlinchey and Calum Elliot. Look at any top player and they work hard and run, they don't all need to have this fabled 'technical ability' that just magics wins from nothing.”
No Scotland are not going to start playing like Spain as long as you have coaches who seem to take pride in picking runners as he described it.
The aim should be from top to bottom every Scottish representive sides puts technique first. Technique isn't everything and you need more than just good technique but it's the most important thing.
You must of missed Scotland being left behind the last 25- 30 years why others have moved on.
Isn't the whole point of youth football to produce players that can then go and cut it at the very top level? If it's just about winning the cup then what is the point.
Just proves what i have always said that we will never amount to anything with this level of thinking at any level
If Harper was English then the u19 team would be built around him - not against him.
Short sightedness of the highest order - imagine a 19 year old Messi being Scottish - he wouldn't get a game for being a luxury.
Short sightedness of the highest order - imagine a 19 year old Messi being Scottish - he wouldn't get a game for being a luxury.
Originally Posted by misawa97:
“No Scotland are not going to start playing like Spain as long as you have coaches who seem to take pride in picking runners as he described it.
The aim should be from top to bottom every Scottish representive sides puts technique first. Technique isn't everything and you need more than just good technique but it's the most important thing.
You must of missed Scotland being left behind the last 25- 30 years why others have moved on.
Isn't the whole point of youth football to produce players that can then go and cut it at the very top level? If it's just about winning the cup then what is the point.”
“No Scotland are not going to start playing like Spain as long as you have coaches who seem to take pride in picking runners as he described it.
The aim should be from top to bottom every Scottish representive sides puts technique first. Technique isn't everything and you need more than just good technique but it's the most important thing.
You must of missed Scotland being left behind the last 25- 30 years why others have moved on.
Isn't the whole point of youth football to produce players that can then go and cut it at the very top level? If it's just about winning the cup then what is the point.”
Scotland have to go to Austria away, Italy away and Croatia at home in the space of 5 days. You can't be playing teams away from home with passengers. Sbragia will want hard work and commitment to play to a desired shape and run the channels and work rate, he doesn't seem to think that is Harper's strength.
Not saying the buy Harper won't make the final squad if they get to Greece, but he does sound like a luxury for these games. Think of a player at your club that was a bit of a luxury, a Markovic etc, now he's a good technical player but not really suited for putting his shoulder to the wheel.
Originally Posted by DUNDEEBOY:
“Just proves what i have always said that we will never amount to anything with this level of thinking at any level”
“Just proves what i have always said that we will never amount to anything with this level of thinking at any level”
Originally Posted by bhoy07:
“If Harper was English then the u19 team would be built around him - not against him.
Short sightedness of the highest order - imagine a 19 year old Messi being Scottish - he wouldn't get a game for being a luxury.”
“If Harper was English then the u19 team would be built around him - not against him.
Short sightedness of the highest order - imagine a 19 year old Messi being Scottish - he wouldn't get a game for being a luxury.”
How much of this Harper have you seen?
Originally Posted by FrankieFixer:
“Tactics come far ahead of letting a Real Madrid Z player float about doing what he wants. Scotland aren't going to start playing like Real Madrid or Spain just because people watch La Liga on Sky and decide to just demand we 'play like that'. We don't have the players to just play highly technical football whenever it suits us.
Scotland went to the final in 2006 of this competition and lost narrowly to Spain with players like Michael McGlinchey and Calum Elliot. Look at any top player and they work hard and run, they don't all need to have this fabled 'technical ability' that just magics wins from nothing.”
“Tactics come far ahead of letting a Real Madrid Z player float about doing what he wants. Scotland aren't going to start playing like Real Madrid or Spain just because people watch La Liga on Sky and decide to just demand we 'play like that'. We don't have the players to just play highly technical football whenever it suits us.
Scotland went to the final in 2006 of this competition and lost narrowly to Spain with players like Michael McGlinchey and Calum Elliot. Look at any top player and they work hard and run, they don't all need to have this fabled 'technical ability' that just magics wins from nothing.”
What does it really matter that we got to that 2006 final ?
I wonder who we left out then for the likes of Michael McGlinchey and Callum Elliot ?
Such short term thinking is shocking from a national youth coach.
Originally Posted by indiana44:
“What does it really matter that we got to that 2006 final ?
I wonder who we left out then for the likes of Michael McGlinchey and Callum Elliot ?
Such short term thinking is shocking from a national youth coach.”
“What does it really matter that we got to that 2006 final ?
I wonder who we left out then for the likes of Michael McGlinchey and Callum Elliot ?
Such short term thinking is shocking from a national youth coach.”
That not having great 'technical ability' didn't stop the players back then and it shouldn't now. People look down on runners or powerful players that harass as being beneath this 'technical ability' that we all must aspire to. Didn't help Barcelona a few years back against Bayern Munich when they were overpowered or Spain in the world cup, didn't hear many saying we should aspire to that level of technical ability.
Hard work and playing in a strong disciplined shape away from home will yield better results than playing a luxury player. That's why the top coaches adjust their teams to suit their opponents even if it means leaving out a big name.
It's the low standards we accept at national level that depresses me, steven Fletcher gets a game based on scoring a goal for scotland about 7 years ago, despite probably being moved on to championship world this year by sunderland
You have one good game for scotland and that probably gets you about 20 caps
You have one good game for scotland and that probably gets you about 20 caps
Originally Posted by bhoy07:
“If Harper was English then the u19 team would be built around him - not against him.
Short sightedness of the highest order - imagine a 19 year old Messi being Scottish - he wouldn't get a game for being a luxury.”
“If Harper was English then the u19 team would be built around him - not against him.
Short sightedness of the highest order - imagine a 19 year old Messi being Scottish - he wouldn't get a game for being a luxury.”
Aye, 'cause the English at world beaters...
. Poor country to use as an example...
I am trying to think of any club side that say over two seasons had an excellent opportunity to develop players for the future and almost totally failed to do so.
I am sure one will come to me soon
I am sure one will come to me soon
Anyone see the videos of Motherwell fans v Hamilton. Doing the 'Twist and Shout' looked amazing, great to see an atmosphere, I'd love Hibs fans to start it in the east stand! Seems like it's catching on as videos on YouTube have other fans doing it.
Originally Posted by FrankieFixer:
“That not having great 'technical ability' didn't stop the players back then and it shouldn't now. People look down on runners or powerful players that harass as being beneath this 'technical ability' that we all must aspire to. Didn't help Barcelona a few years back against Bayern Munich when they were overpowered or Spain in the world cup, didn't hear many saying we should aspire to that level of technical ability.
Hard work and playing in a strong disciplined shape away from home will yield better results than playing a luxury player. That's why the top coaches adjust their teams to suit their opponents even if it means leaving out a big name.”
“That not having great 'technical ability' didn't stop the players back then and it shouldn't now. People look down on runners or powerful players that harass as being beneath this 'technical ability' that we all must aspire to. Didn't help Barcelona a few years back against Bayern Munich when they were overpowered or Spain in the world cup, didn't hear many saying we should aspire to that level of technical ability.
Hard work and playing in a strong disciplined shape away from home will yield better results than playing a luxury player. That's why the top coaches adjust their teams to suit their opponents even if it means leaving out a big name.”
Yeah cos the Bayern Munich side that hammered Barca were just runners weren't they. No technical ability in that side.
Trying to use the Spanish performance in the last world cup is pretty desperate. So you use one tournament but what ignore the fact that they won European Championships and a world cup B2B.
If your happy with type of players Scottish football produces then good for you. Personally I prefer players who can do the basics. i.e. Control a ball with 1 touch and then pass the ball accurately to a teammate.
Quote:
“It's the low standards we accept at national level that depresses me, steven Fletcher gets a game based on scoring a goal for scotland about 7 years ago, despite probably being moved on to championship world this year by sunderland
You have one good game for scotland and that probably gets you about 20 caps”
“It's the low standards we accept at national level that depresses me, steven Fletcher gets a game based on scoring a goal for scotland about 7 years ago, despite probably being moved on to championship world this year by sunderland
You have one good game for scotland and that probably gets you about 20 caps”
Very true.
The likes of Caldwell, Dailly, Miller all got over 50 caps which to me is staggering.
Quote:
“Spanish football expert Graham Hunter says the decision to leave Real Madrid's Jack Harper out of Scotland's under 19's squad is "retrograde" and "prehistoric".”
“Spanish football expert Graham Hunter says the decision to leave Real Madrid's Jack Harper out of Scotland's under 19's squad is "retrograde" and "prehistoric".”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02mqs5h
Quote:
“FATHER tells how Spanish were on the phone 24 hours after his son's omission to check on his availability to play for them.
THE father of Real Madrid starlet Jack Harper has warned Scotland they are in danger of losing his boy to Spain.
Scotland coach Ricky Sbragia snubbed Harper for the Scotland Under-19 squad and tagged him a luxury – and within 24 hours Spain were on the phone checking on his international status.
Sbragia says he needs more height in his squad for games against Austria, Croatia and Italy in Vienna, but Harper, who has just turned 19, already stands 6ft 1in.
John, originally from Barrhead, said: “The day after Scotland announced the under-19 squad, and Jack wasn’t included, Spain were on the phone asking about his position and international status.
“Their national academy is just a few miles from Real Madrid’s own training ground, so they know about Jack because they watch his team often enough.
“Jack wants to play for Scotland. I’m Scottish, so is his mum and the rest of the family. He is committed to Scotland, but if nothing is happening by the time he is 21 then he will have a decision to make because he has a life and a career to fulfil. Hopefully, it won’t come to that.
“To describe Jack as a ‘luxury player’ is a bit harsh. The word ‘luxury’ is a bit strong, but I have no wish to verbally assassinate the Scotland coach.
“He probably wishes he could back track on his choice of words because I certainly don’t believe Jack is a lazy player.
“He is not the type who will put in tackles all over the pitch and his game is more about passing and movement, but it’s better to let him do his talking on the football pitch.
“There have been many positives for him this season with Real Madrid. He has played and scored in the youth elite level for the club in the Champions League and that has helped his confidence. He is still fighting for the league and a couple of other major trophies with the club between now and the end of the season.
“He has still to fill out a bit, we appreciate that, but he’s already 6ft 1in and I know for a fact he will get there.”
Harper failed to secure of of the 18 spots available in Sbragia’s squad as they bid to secure a place at this summer’s European Championships in Greece.
Sbragia said: “At Real Madrid, Jack can float all over the place, which he does.
But with us he has to be more disciplined. He’s an exceptionally gifted lad but we can’t carry him. He can be a luxury sometimes.
“We’ve deliberately gone for more height in our squad. That’s one of the reasons why Jack isn’t in it.
“I’ve gone for a physical side and runners. Hopefully I’m proved right in Austria. It’s purely a tactical decision.”
John added: “Jack was surprised and gutted when he wasn’t included in the squad. He was looking forward to the games, they had been pencilled in his calendar.
“The banter had been flying in his dressing room at Real Madrid with other lads who were looking forward to representing Spain, Norway and Lithuania at the European Championships.
“However, Jack’s time will come.””
“FATHER tells how Spanish were on the phone 24 hours after his son's omission to check on his availability to play for them.
THE father of Real Madrid starlet Jack Harper has warned Scotland they are in danger of losing his boy to Spain.
Scotland coach Ricky Sbragia snubbed Harper for the Scotland Under-19 squad and tagged him a luxury – and within 24 hours Spain were on the phone checking on his international status.
Sbragia says he needs more height in his squad for games against Austria, Croatia and Italy in Vienna, but Harper, who has just turned 19, already stands 6ft 1in.
John, originally from Barrhead, said: “The day after Scotland announced the under-19 squad, and Jack wasn’t included, Spain were on the phone asking about his position and international status.
“Their national academy is just a few miles from Real Madrid’s own training ground, so they know about Jack because they watch his team often enough.
“Jack wants to play for Scotland. I’m Scottish, so is his mum and the rest of the family. He is committed to Scotland, but if nothing is happening by the time he is 21 then he will have a decision to make because he has a life and a career to fulfil. Hopefully, it won’t come to that.
“To describe Jack as a ‘luxury player’ is a bit harsh. The word ‘luxury’ is a bit strong, but I have no wish to verbally assassinate the Scotland coach.
“He probably wishes he could back track on his choice of words because I certainly don’t believe Jack is a lazy player.
“He is not the type who will put in tackles all over the pitch and his game is more about passing and movement, but it’s better to let him do his talking on the football pitch.
“There have been many positives for him this season with Real Madrid. He has played and scored in the youth elite level for the club in the Champions League and that has helped his confidence. He is still fighting for the league and a couple of other major trophies with the club between now and the end of the season.
“He has still to fill out a bit, we appreciate that, but he’s already 6ft 1in and I know for a fact he will get there.”
Harper failed to secure of of the 18 spots available in Sbragia’s squad as they bid to secure a place at this summer’s European Championships in Greece.
Sbragia said: “At Real Madrid, Jack can float all over the place, which he does.
But with us he has to be more disciplined. He’s an exceptionally gifted lad but we can’t carry him. He can be a luxury sometimes.
“We’ve deliberately gone for more height in our squad. That’s one of the reasons why Jack isn’t in it.
“I’ve gone for a physical side and runners. Hopefully I’m proved right in Austria. It’s purely a tactical decision.”
John added: “Jack was surprised and gutted when he wasn’t included in the squad. He was looking forward to the games, they had been pencilled in his calendar.
“The banter had been flying in his dressing room at Real Madrid with other lads who were looking forward to representing Spain, Norway and Lithuania at the European Championships.
“However, Jack’s time will come.””
The more you read the comments from Sbragia the worse it gets.
Originally Posted by misawa97:
“Yeah cos the Bayern Munich side that hammered Barca were just runners weren't they. No technical ability in that side.
Trying to use the Spanish performance in the last world cup is pretty desperate. So you use one tournament but what ignore the fact that they won European Championships and a world cup B2B.
If your happy with type of players Scottish football produces then good for you. Personally I prefer players who can do the basics. i.e. Control a ball with 1 touch and then pass the ball accurately to a teammate.”
“Yeah cos the Bayern Munich side that hammered Barca were just runners weren't they. No technical ability in that side.
Trying to use the Spanish performance in the last world cup is pretty desperate. So you use one tournament but what ignore the fact that they won European Championships and a world cup B2B.
If your happy with type of players Scottish football produces then good for you. Personally I prefer players who can do the basics. i.e. Control a ball with 1 touch and then pass the ball accurately to a teammate.”
Ryan Gauld can't control a ball? Liam Henderson playing for Celtic can't? Charlie Telfer at Dundee Utd can't? They are professional players, not some pub team down the park. If they couldn't do the basics right they wouldn't be getting signed for English Premier League clubs or playing for Celtic or moving abroad.
Sbragia obviously wants his team set up in a specific way and this Harper doesn't fit in it this time. Fine if he is at Real Madrid and has the cream of European youth to play with but it's different when you have a limited pool to select from and you are going into tough away games against teams like Italy and you'll be wanting to defend from the front and hit on the counter.
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