10 years ago Belgium ranked 66 Scotland 22

[Percy Vere]

So what did Belgium do in the last ten years to go from 66 to 1in the world rankings? Watching Scotland through the 70s 80s 90s we were always better than Belgium. Or on a par. Is it beyond our national and domestic games wit to look at their model and copy it?

[Cataplana]

I bet they didn't sack a manager who was making progress to replace him with one of their cronies who had been unemployable for years.

[Keith_M]

It's in the genes.

They realised that too many white Belgians weren't going to get them anywhere so they branched out a wee bit.



Scotland needs to invade some other countries, leave immediately, then play guys from the former 'colonies'.

[McKenzie]

Overhauled their coaching system basing it more on small sided games - even as far down as 1v1 and 2v2 at the foundation ages. Why have 7 a side teams with squads of 10/11 where players will touch the ball for a minute or 2 when they could touch the ball hundreds of times in these situations. The Scottish fa is so backwards that until the coaching system is reviewed we will continually produce players who are sub standard.

[Keith_M]

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Overhauled their coaching system basing it more on small sided games - even as far down as 1v1 and 2v2 at the foundation ages. Why have 7 a side teams with squads of 10/11 where players will touch the ball for a minute or 2 when they could touch the ball hundreds of times in these situations. The Scottish fa is so backwards that until the coaching system is reviewed we will continually produce players who are sub standard.

Scottish Football is so far behind because of the people in charge. There focus is on appeasing The Rangers and Celtc and to hang with the rest of us.

[blackpoolhibs]

We have this SAME conversation every time the international team play and invariably get beat. Nothing EVER happens, we keep doing the same things apart from replacing one losing manager after another.

Those in charge of the game in Scotland are so entrenched in their ways, that we won't see any upturn is success unless we completely change the whole set up.

Turkeys dont vote for christmas, and the gravy train is too good for those in charge to get off and let people who know what's needed take over.

[Bookkeeper]

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We have this SAME conversation every time the international team play and invariably get beat. Nothing EVER happens, we keep doing the same things apart from replacing one losing manager after another.

Those in charge of the game in Scotland are so entrenched in their ways, that we won't see any upturn is success unless we completely change the whole set up.

Turkeys dont vote for christmas, and the gravy train is too good for those in charge to get off and let people who know what's needed take over.

Nothing more to be said, really. We'll never improve until its changed from the top down.

[ScottB]

It’s not a mystery, it’s well documented, the efforts France, Spain, Iceland, Belgium etc etc etc went to.

We have endless debate, the odd investigation, and then? What has actually changed in the 21 years since our last tournament? Zip.

[wallpaperman]

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It's in the genes.

They realised that too many white Belgians weren't going to get them anywhere so they branched out a wee bit.



Scotland needs to invade some other countries, leave immediately, then play guys from the former 'colonies'.

Certainly an element of truth that they have benefited enormously from first or second generation immigration, as have other countries in continental Europe.

[GreenCastle]

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We have this SAME conversation every time the international team play and invariably get beat. Nothing EVER happens, we keep doing the same things apart from replacing one losing manager after another.

Those in charge of the game in Scotland are so entrenched in their ways, that we won't see any upturn is success unless we completely change the whole set up.

Turkeys dont vote for christmas, and the gravy train is too good for those in charge to get off and let people who know what's needed take over.

Agreed.

Many countries have over taken Scotland - not just Belgium.

[we are hibs]

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I bet they didn't sack a manager who was making progress to replace him with one of their cronies who had been unemployable for years.

Strachan wasnt making progress.

[lord bunberry]

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Strachan wasnt making progress.

I think he was, it wasn’t massive strides though. We’ve gone backwards big time since he left.

[Percy Vere]

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Overhauled their coaching system basing it more on small sided games - even as far down as 1v1 and 2v2 at the foundation ages. Why have 7 a side teams with squads of 10/11 where players will touch the ball for a minute or 2 when they could touch the ball hundreds of times in these situations. The Scottish fa is so backwards that until the coaching system is reviewed we will continually produce players who are sub standard.

It's got to start at grassroots. I did a coaching certificate years ago for working with kids. It was decent but never any follow up or getting you back to improve your skills. Obviously no bigger plan and probably no different now.

[Percy Vere]

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We have this SAME conversation every time the international team play and invariably get beat. Nothing EVER happens, we keep doing the same things apart from replacing one losing manager after another.

Those in charge of the game in Scotland are so entrenched in their ways, that we won't see any upturn is success unless we completely change the whole set up.

Turkeys dont vote for christmas, and the gravy train is too good for those in charge to get off and let people who know what's needed take over.

Well said.

[Percy Vere]

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Strachan wasnt making progress.

I think he meant Ally Macleod 😂

[Sioux]

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We have this SAME conversation every time the international team play and invariably get beat. Nothing EVER happens, we keep doing the same things apart from replacing one losing manager after another.

Those in charge of the game in Scotland are so entrenched in their ways, that we won't see any upturn is success unless we completely change the whole set up.

Turkeys dont vote for christmas, and the gravy train is too good for those in charge to get off and let people who know what's needed take over.

Who are these people?

[SonOfDavidFrancey]

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Certainly an element of truth that they have benefited enormously from first or second generation immigration, as have other countries in continental Europe.

Including Engerlund

[FRes Hibbie]

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I think he meant Ally Macleod 😂

I assumed Levein.

[Crazyhorse]

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So what did Belgium do in the last ten years to go from 66 to 1in the world rankings? Watching Scotland through the 70s 80s 90s we were always better than Belgium. Or on a par. Is it beyond our national and domestic games wit to look at their model and copy it?

We have discussed the changes Belgium made to their domestic leagues before. They have a 16 team league but have introduced various play off groupings at the end of the season to reduce meaningful games. Over the past two decades since the nadir of Belgian club teams in Europe and the national team at the end of the 1990s they have kept changing things to try to improve and make it more competitive (i.e avoid Anderlecht or Bruges winning every year). I don’t live there now but a couple of years ago I think they also drastically reduced the number of senior teams and overhauled the whole structure.
Zomtic and their SFA/SMM pals already think this season is an enormous success for Scottish football. The bigots bros are in the group stages of the
Europa league so no change is necessary.

[Tobias Funke]

Our governing body and media are too busy fudding themselves off to the Old Firm to be interested in the state of our national game.

[The Harp Awakes]

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Scottish Football is so far behind because of the people in charge. There focus is on appeasing The Rangers and Celtc and to hang with the rest of us.

Sums it up perfectly. Nothing more to say and it ain't going to change anytime soon.

[Diclonius]

I believe 2009 was the year the Belgian government introduced mandatory "kick the baw aboot in the park" time after school and banned all of "the Xboxes" and "the Playstations".

What? They do all that in Belgium too? Beats me then.

[blackpoolhibs]

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Who are these people?

People who have the country's success as their first priority, not their own. Have a look at the top table, then cull it, none of them have a ****in clue.

[steakbake]

The rot’s at the top. We’ll never progress while people who are so limited in ambition and vision run the game. It’s like being run by duffers from a pish bowling club.

[Purple & Green]

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So what did Belgium do in the last ten years to go from 66 to 1in the world rankings? Watching Scotland through the 70s 80s 90s we were always better than Belgium. Or on a par. Is it beyond our national and domestic games wit to look at their model and copy it?

Belgium were euro championship finalists in 1980, and 4th placed at the 86 World Cup regularly qualifying for the knock out stages in the 80s and 90s.

They inflicted a rare defeat at Hampden in 83 iirc.

[Percy Vere]

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Belgium were euro championship finalists in 1980, and 4th placed at the 86 World Cup regularly qualifying for the knock out stages in the 80s and 90s.

They inflicted a rare defeat at Hampden in 83 iirc.

Must be my rose tinted specs. They have a good record against us. Nevertheless their ranking was a lot lower at times.

[DetroitHibs]

The two biggest sides in Scotland Hoover up all the good young talent, but very few made the break thru due to the pressures on each old firm team to compete.

[where'stheslope]

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Strachan wasnt making progress.

Strachan should have been given the job to run the SFA and help make football changes from a footballers point of view!
Just now the SFA is being run by the Tash who nearly everyone on here wanted out of our club, and is now in charge of the National game????
And we wonder how the National team is not going anywhere???
Get in people who have experience of playing on the pitch, not people who Lord it in the stands every week!!!!!

[Onceinawhile]

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We have discussed the changes Belgium made to their domestic leagues before. They have a 16 team league but have introduced various play off groupings at the end of the season to reduce meaningful games. Over the past two decades since the nadir of Belgian club teams in Europe and the national team at the end of the 1990s they have kept changing things to try to improve and make it more competitive (i.e avoid Anderlecht or Bruges winning every year). I don’t live there now but a couple of years ago I think they also drastically reduced the number of senior teams and overhauled the whole structure.
Zomtic and their SFA/SMM pals already think this season is an enormous success for Scottish football. The bigots bros are in the group stages of the
Europa league so no change is necessary.

If folk think our split is mental, they would do well to look at the belgian league

[MrSmith]

For starters, the insidious nature of the SFA & SFL must change. One national body and not pandering to The Rangers for starters! The OO is in deep and trying to pass off as masons - they are not!

Once we have one national body, we can restructure and get back 16 teams each playing two games with each team per season. This would open up the entire league with very few meaningless games.

A singular national body must also be taken out of Glasgow and re-homed in a neutral town or city. A center of excellence set up to reflect both natural and modern football coaching. We need people who are in the game to be part of a new system. Pat Nevin for me as Chief. Furthered by people of his ilk, understanding, professionalism and love of the game involved at all levels. No more OO, bean counters or those sympathetic to the Rangers involved.

Sorry, I do hate the Rangers.