Scotland Right Back solution staring us in the face (NHC)

**CMurdoch** · 19-10-2020 12:57 PM

James Tavernier has been living in Scotland for 5 years so could now be eligible to play for Scotland.
He has matured into a very good player and would be a big upgrade on the current incumbent Stephen O Donnell.
A leader, athletic, great crosses, great engine.
Him on one side and Robertson on the other would make us more of a threat to other teams.
Folk will get the hump because he plays for Rangers, didn't shake hands with Porteous and is English but small countries need to be pragmatic if they are to break down the massive disadvantage of a small population.
Tavernier would fill a problem position in the current Scottish team at a time when we have a chance to get to tournaments.

Tin hat on!

***Diclonius*** · 19-10-2020 01:00 PM

I'm sure British teams have an agreement that the residency rule can't be used.

**CMurdoch** · 19-10-2020 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by Diclonius

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I'm sure British teams have an agreement that the residency rule can't be used.

They got round it for Andrew Driver.
What a waste of effort that was.

***Diclonius*** · 19-10-2020 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by CMurdoch

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They got round it for Andrew Driver.
What a waste of effort that was.

I believe he wasn't schooled for long enough here but we reduced the requirements.

**Purple & Green** · 19-10-2020 01:00 PM

What makes you think he is eligible?

This story was run a year ago, and the view then was residency only applied to under 18s.

***Jones28*** · 19-10-2020 01:03 PM

Paul McGinn is an even more obvious contender IMO

**CMurdoch** · 19-10-2020 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by Jones28

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Paul McGinn is an even more obvious contender IMO

Like Stephen O Donnell he is a good club player but he isn't going to add the dimensions to the Scotland team that Tavernier would.

Tavernier also has the advantage of having played high level European football over the last few years which McGinn hasn't.

***Jones28*** · 19-10-2020 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by CMurdoch

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Like Stephen O Donnell he is a good club player but he isn't going to add the dimensions to the Scotland team that Tavernier would.

Tavernier also has the advantage of having played high level European football over the last few years which McGinn hasn't.

Irrelevant though, cos he isn't eligible.

***Keith_M*** · 19-10-2020 02:33 PM

Has Tavernier even expressed an interest in playing for Scotland?

***California-Hibs*** · 20-10-2020 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by Jones28

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Paul McGinn is an even more obvious contender IMO

I like Paul McGinn, but this comment can't go by unhighlighted about just how much better a player James Tavernier is, c'mon now.

If it was a possibility and we were to get round it there is absolutely no question that he'd be a major upgrade for Scotland. Anyone who says otherwise simply just isn't capable of taking their Rangers hating glasses off for a second to admit it.

**CMurdoch** · 19-10-2020 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by Purple & Green

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What makes you think he is eligible?

This story was run a year ago, and the view then was residency only applied to under 18s.

There are all manner of nationalities playing for other country and most seem to be on a fairly tenuous link.
South Americans playing for Spain. Africans playing for France, Belgium and even Poland.

**Purple & Green** · 19-10-2020 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by CMurdoch

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There are all manner of nationalities playing for other country and most seem to be on a fairly tenuous link.
South Americans playing for Spain. Africans playing for France, Belgium and even Poland.

It’s a lot more straightforward for other countries though because they have passports of the countries they represent.

Tavernier doesn’t have a Scottish or English passport - he has a UK one, hence the reason for different citizenship rules - as citizenship in the FIFA concept is relatively meaningless for the UK teams.

**gbhibby** · 19-10-2020 01:06 PM

I think there is a residency agreement between us and England although the English have not always adhered to it in the past. Has improved since that day in May. I don't think John Barnes fulfilled the criteria to play for England at the time.

**~~The 90+2~~** · 19-10-2020 01:12 PM

Tavernier would be amazing for Scotland.

***easty*** · 19-10-2020 01:19 PM

I don’t care what other countries do, I’d rather we picked Scottish players, you don’t have to be born here to be Scottish but if you don’t consider yourself to be Scottish then get tae ****.

If you asked Tavernier what nationality he was he’d say English. It’s just no for me.

***Speedy*** · 20-10-2020 08:04 AM

Originally Posted by easty

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I don’t care what other countries do, I’d rather we picked Scottish players, you don’t have to be born here to be Scottish but if you don’t consider yourself to be Scottish then get tae ****.

If you asked Tavernier what nationality he was he’d say English. It’s just no for me.

I would agree

**Future17** · 19-10-2020 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by CMurdoch

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James Tavernier has been living in Scotland for 5 years so could now be eligible to play for Scotland.
He has matured into a very good player and would be a big upgrade on the current incumbent Stephen O Donnell.
A leader, athletic, great crosses, great engine.
Him on one side and Robertson on the other would make us more of a threat to other teams.
Folk will get the hump because he plays for Rangers, didn't shake hands with Porteous and is English but small countries need to be pragmatic if they are to break down the massive disadvantage of a small population.
Tavernier would fill a problem position in the current Scottish team at a time when we have a chance to get to tournaments.

Tin hat on!

Tavernier would be an upgrade for Scotland but he isn't eligible to play (and can't become eligible) under the existing framework.

***danhibees1875*** · 19-10-2020 01:20 PM

Don't know what the rules are but if possible and he wanted to then that would seem like a good idea.

He seems to have stitched himself back together well since 21516.

**DH1875** · 19-10-2020 01:23 PM

I wouldn't call Stephen O'Donnell incompent. Think he is decent player to be fair. Surprised he ended up at Motherwell.

**~~The 90+2~~** · 19-10-2020 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by DH1875

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I wouldn't call Stephen O'Donnell incompent. Think he is decent player to be fair. Surprised he ended up at Motherwell.

He's not international standard and is generally the poorest player on the pitch when playing for Scotland.

***The Modfather*** · 19-10-2020 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by The 90+2

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He's not international standard and is generally the poorest player on the pitch when playing for Scotland.

I don’t disagree with your general point, but he has been part of a team and defence that is starting to look more than the sum of its parts, and difficult to beat. I don’t see many better options than O’Donnell at the moment IMO.

**~~The 90+2~~** · 19-10-2020 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by The Modfather

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I don’t disagree with your general point, but he has been part of a team and defence that is starting to look more than the sum of its parts, and difficult to beat. I don’t see many better options than O’Donnell at the moment IMO.

True, and there isn’t. 👍

***bigwheel*** · 19-10-2020 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by The 90+2

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He's not international standard and is generally the poorest player on the pitch when playing for Scotland.

and yet he was pivotal in creating our goal in the last game.....

**supermcginn** · 19-10-2020 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by bigwheel

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and yet he was pivotal in creating our goal in the last game.....

and had an assist the game before.

**hibby rae** · 19-10-2020 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by CMurdoch

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James Tavernier has been living in Scotland for 5 years so could now be eligible to play for Scotland.
He has matured into a very good player and would be a big upgrade on the current incumbent Stephen O Donnell.
A leader, athletic, great crosses, great engine.
Him on one side and Robertson on the other would make us more of a threat to other teams.
Folk will get the hump because he plays for Rangers, didn't shake hands with Porteous and is English but small countries need to be pragmatic if they are to break down the massive disadvantage of a small population.
Tavernier would fill a problem position in the current Scottish team at a time when we have a chance to get to tournaments.

Tin hat on!

Tavernier is far better going forward than defending, which he can still be dodgy at imo.

And as a Scotland defender he's going to be defending a lot more than at Rangers, generally against a better standard of player. I don't think we pick defenders on their attacking abilities.

**~~The 90+2~~** · 19-10-2020 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by hibby rae

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Tavernier is far better going forward than defending, which he can still be dodgy at imo.

And as a Scotland defender he's going to be defending a lot more than at Rangers, generally against a better standard of player. I don't think we pick defenders on their attacking abilities.

He's fantastic for them in Europe also. He's turned into an excellent player.

**A Hi-Bee** · 19-10-2020 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by The 90+2

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He's fantastic for them in Europe also. He's turned into an excellent player.

No ****in way it would be like selling your soul to the devil, dont care if we never win another game rather than allow this kind of ***** to happen, **** far better Hibs players in the past never even got a cap.

**Andy74** · 19-10-2020 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by CMurdoch

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James Tavernier has been living in Scotland for 5 years so could now be eligible to play for Scotland.
He has matured into a very good player and would be a big upgrade on the current incumbent Stephen O Donnell.
A leader, athletic, great crosses, great engine.
Him on one side and Robertson on the other would make us more of a threat to other teams.
Folk will get the hump because he plays for Rangers, didn't shake hands with Porteous and is English but small countries need to be pragmatic if they are to break down the massive disadvantage of a small population.
Tavernier would fill a problem position in the current Scottish team at a time when we have a chance to get to tournaments.

Tin hat on!

Not top of the list of things I’m worried about making happen.